McDonalds To Add Apples To Every Happy Meal

[Zero Sum 305]

I guess we'll start seeing a lot more apples by the side of the road.

Probably.

Besides the angry rant from up above, imagine the availability of new apple trees in the country. Its Johnny Appleseed all over again.

There's at least one positive in the story.

johnny appleseed all over again.

D'Oh... got beat.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Let us not forget certain cities that have banned happy meals pretty much.

Sure, McDonalds made the decision on thier own, but it was under pressure despite what the article states.

There are pieces of legislation in the works all across the country and in the Federal government to crack down on fatty foods, etc.

Just look at the new FDA menu regulations for starters.

It's all in the name of blaming companies for McDonalds and ignoring the real problem as I stated in my OP.

There are also customers all over the country looking for the convenience of fast food w/o having to give up on healthy choices. This is why businesses such as Mickey D's alter their offerings, their food composition and their marketing. To them it's about reacting to changing customer demands more than it is about city ordinances or state and federal regulations. Thos regulations, by the way, aren't coming out of thin air either but typically result from changing public concerns.

[_Simpson_ 250]

So, McDonalds is an incompetent business? They're doing things that the customers don't want? It's hard to see how they're staying competitive when they're clearly not listening to their customers. As to whether people that go to McDonalds are interested in Apples, from my personal viewpoint as an infrequent customer of that establishment, I'd say yes. I think I'd be more inclined to take my daughter to Mickey D's if they'd sub half the fries they serve in a Happy Meal® today with apple slices. But what do I know? I'm just a crazy lefty anyways...

I think they are being pressured and they know how to handle pressure so they gave us this BS line. If I had health in mind the last place in the world I would go is McDonalds.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think they are being pressured and they know how to handle pressure so they gave us this BS line. If I had health in mind the last place in the world I would go is McDonalds.

The customer is putting on the pressure. They know that people concerned about healthier food choices avoid them today. That population is growing and as long as that perception of McD's that you and others have persists, McD's can't tap into that growing customer base. Hence, they decide to make changes and market those changes in an effort to change customer perception and increase their customer base. It's a smart business decision on Mickey D's part and it's a prime example of the free market at work. There's nothing to get upset about here.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I dont think its so much the customer as it is pressure groups but regardless I think this is a smart move by McDonalds.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There are also customers all over the country looking for the convenience of fast food w/o having to give up on healthy choices. This is why businesses such as Mickey D's alter their offerings, their food composition and their marketing. To them it's about reacting to changing customer demands more than it is about city ordinances or state and federal regulations. Thos regulations, by the way, aren't coming out of thin air either but typically result from changing public concerns.

Indeed. So they're offering an apple, big whoop! Presumably the apple is supposed to be the healthy balance to the low-grade meat and salt-filled potato puree.

Change the law and all McDonalds will do is offer the bare minimum in terms of food quality.

The bolded part says it all. The lazy fat ####### people out there who can't get up from their damn Xbox blame McDonalds for being fat slobs.

Seriously, you're fat because you're lazy garbage and need to get out and excercise. Your thumbs might be skinny from pushing those damn controller buttons or the remote control buttons. Why? Because you actually work that part of your body.

I am so sick of these idiots who blame fast food places, fatty foods, school meals, etc. on their kids being fat.

Your kids are fat because they are LAZY. Because you are over-protective and keep them inside all day because the media tells you if your child goes outside, they are going to be raped. That and you're such a bad parent, that you have zero control over your little brat.

Typical in this country today. Blame all your personal problems on everyone else.

Yet another over the top, hyperbolic rant eh Paul? You're fast becoming a parody of yourself. At least you can be congratulated on not invoking Hitler and his Nazis.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I dont think its so much the customer as it is pressure groups but regardless I think this is a smart move by McDonalds.

Pressure groups? They are customers. If they weren't and McD's is not interested in broadening their customer base to include them, then McD's would continue to serve fatty fries and burgers and tell these pressure groups to go and shove their business where the sun doesn't shine. That would be a poor business decision, however.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

The customer is putting on the pressure. They know that people concerned about healthier food choices avoid them today. That population is growing and as long as that perception of McD's that you and others have persists, McD's can't tap into that growing customer base. Hence, they decide to make changes and market those changes in an effort to change customer perception and increase their customer base. It's a smart business decision on Mickey D's part and it's a prime example of the free market at work. There's nothing to get upset about here.

It's not the free market at work at all. It's all pressure and legislation that's been shoved down the throats of eating establishments (with over 50 employees) in the past few years.

McDonald's has offered healthy alternatives for at least the last decade if people gave a damn to actually pay attention to their menu.

This isn't about what consumers want, it's about what activist nutjobs who scream loudly want. They want someone to blame and they blame McDonalds for their own bad parenting or their best friend's bad parenting.

Yet another over the top, hyperbolic rant eh Paul? You're fast becoming a parody of yourself. At least you can be congratulated on not invoking Hitler and his Nazis.

and yet you prove your ignorance once again on a subject.

There's not a damn thing I said in that statement that wasn't true. If you'd been paying attention the past several years to headlines and stories, you'd know that.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

and yet you prove your ignorance once again on a subject.

There's not a damn thing I said in that statement that wasn't true. If you'd been paying attention the past several years to headlines and stories, you'd know that.

Opinion isn't truth Paul... and ranty, sensationalist opinion least of all.

Edited July 26, 2011 by fishdude

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's not the free market at work at all. It's all pressure and legislation that's been shoved down the throats of eating establishments (with over 50 employees) in the past few years.

McDonald's has offered healthy alternatives for at least the last decade if people gave a damn to actually pay attention to their menu.

This isn't about what consumers want, it's about what activist nutjobs who scream loudly want. They want someone to blame and they blame McDonalds for their own bad parenting or their best friend's bad parenting.

That's your belief. It's irrational and incorrect but that's not really anything new.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

That's your belief. It's irrational and incorrect but that's not really anything new.

So parents aren't to blame for their kids being fat arses?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

McDonalds isn't popular because it tastes good, it's popular because people have no taste.

A hamburger you make and cook yourself will always taste better that one of those flash frozen mystery meat things that is deep-fried or microwaved for the exact amount time mathematically required to heat it through.

Fast food outlets (like McDonalds) have a business model that relies on providing a huge volume of food as cheap as possible, using the cheapest ingredients at the bare minimum quality that will pass food standards guidelines.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So parents aren't to blame for their kids being fat arses?

I didn't say that. All I'm saying is that I would feel better taking my daugther to McDonald's if they were to downsize the fries portion in their Happy Meals and add a few fruit slices instead. That's it. I'm a customer that would consider frequenting McD's perhaps twice as much as I do today if the meals they offered for kids would be better balanced - less fat, less starch and more fresh fruit. And I am not the only parent that feels that way.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hmmm I'd settle for actual meat being used in the burgers (not some sludge boiled out of a cow's brain pan) and that their foods contain more ingredients available to home cooks than alien chemicals added as part of some industrial process.

[Zero Sum 305]

I think they are being pressured and they know how to handle pressure so they gave us this BS line. If I had health in mind the last place in the world I would go is McDonalds.

With similar food establishments their drive-thru salads, yogurt, and breakfast meals (without the hashbrowns) are actually not gut-busters. Mind the smarter choices.