Comments on: Retire Ronald? Or reclaim responsibility?

By: Christina

Christina — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 01:39:31 +0000

That’s interesting, Joy, about the McDonald’s food in France. I know McDonald’s has done things like eliminate food dyes and source more sustainable food in some locations outside the U.S., but I’d sort of assumed that the food was still, well, McDonald’s food. Would love to hear more about the differences.

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:46:04 +0000

We talk about marketing (wrt food & toys & life in general) with our children all the time. We talk about healthy food, and moderation, and nutrients, etc.

I could care less if there is a Ronald or not. We haven’t eaten at McDonald’s in a very long time, and our kids are fine with that, because they know what crap the food is at that chain in Canada. (Before that, it was an occasional meal that we didn’t particularly enjoy while on the run.) However, we had the pleasure (and yes, it was a pleasure) of eating at McDonald’s in France a year and a half ago, and was it ever an enlightening experience. The quality of food there was so far above and beyond anything that McD’s offers in Canada (and I’m assuming the USA) that I almost cried. And why it it better? Because the French Government has decreed that it must be better.

I’m waiting for our Canadian government and our American neighbours to step up and set strong legislation to protect food, and provide *something* to assist our local farmers, so that we can all eat healthy food that doesn’t break the food budget each month. There absolutely needs to be more education for people, but also more regulation, and subsidies (in some form or another) for healthy food from local suppliers.

By: Daily (Show) dose of funny. With fries. | Spoonfed

Daily (Show) dose of funny. With fries. | Spoonfed — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:46:18 +0000

[...] McCrazy from the Spoonfed archives: Retire Ronald? Or reclaim responsibility? (April 29, 2010) Parenting amid predatory marketing. And why McDonald’s should be held more [...]

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 01:44:14 +0000

Just a heads-up to anyone who was following the comments on this post (from oh so many months ago): I've just posted a new piece about the Happy Meals toy crackdown and, more specifically, about McDonald's efforts to teach "nutrition workshops" for school kids. Yes, nutrition workshops.

By: Forget Happy Meal toys. Let's ban McEducation. | Spoonfed

Forget Happy Meal toys. Let's ban McEducation. | Spoonfed — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 01:38:56 +0000

[...] debate. And, really, my opinion on fast-food marketing hasn’t changed since I wrote about the Retire Ronald campaign in [...]

By: Lunch Tray Friday Buffet: October 29, 2010

Lunch Tray Friday Buffet: October 29, 2010 — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:27:51 +0000

[...] role of government in regulating food marketing to children. And Christina of Spoonfed shared her own previous post from April about parental versus corporate responsibility, which is well worth [...]

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:55:03 +0000

“… while we wait for billion dollar industries to cease marketing to easy prey, a parent’s responsibility comes first.”

Absolutely right, Michelle. Corporations need to back off, but parents need to, well, parent.

By: Michelle A

Michelle A — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:56:55 +0000

I agree that parental responsibility and also demanding that corporations be held accountable are both important. But in the meantime, while we wait for billion dollar industries to cease marketing to easy prey, a parent’s responsibility comes first. Just as we would protect our children from sexual predators, it is also our responsibility to protect them from corporate predators that are sending messages through advertising that are destructive to the well-being and healthy physical and psychological growth of our children. I just don’t understand how parents suddenly find themselves “reluctantly” in McDonald’s buying their children a Happy Meal. You decided to have children. You strapped you child into the car seat. You drove to McDonald’s. You bought the Happy Meal. I have a 10 and 6 year old who would never touch fast food. Only recently did they find out who Ronald McDonald is. My 10 year old only ate at McDonald’s once while out with a friend and her parents, and got sick to her stomach. My six year old’s favorite foods are salmon, broccoli and avocado. My 10 year old’s favorite restaurant is Thai. They order off of the adult menu in restaurants. There was never any debate, any power struggle, it was just how we did things. They are only rarely exposed to any advertising. While I am disgusted with corporations marketing to children, ultimately it is my responsibility and no one else’s.

By: Christina

Christina — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:34:23 +0000

Those HFCS ads are something else, alright. For anyone who hasn't seen them, check out the corn industry's propaganda website, SweetSurprise.com. Lots of eye-opening (and jaw-dropping) stuff over there.

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:36:41 +0000

I agree whole-heartedly with your blog Christina. We need both accountability from parents and industry. Although I didn’t read every response, one point that makes me absolutely crazy and I didn’t see mentioned, is the cheaper price of junk food compared to healthier choices. This dissuades a number of people I know from choosing the better item as their mindset is there budget doesn’t allow for it.
Then of course there is the fact that grocery stores have taken the “get healthy revolution” as an opportunity to make much larger profits on extremely thin margins (typically 1-2% compared to many other industries of 5-10%+) on organic, better made food.

Lastly I wonder if anyone else did a double and triple take at the High Frustose Corn Syrup adds that ran the earlier part of this year. I have since completely stopped watching television as there is nothing truly worth viewing. It amazes me that these add should be allowed to air, I mean honestly! To say this “ingredient” to put it politely, is like sugar and is okay in moderation, is as bad as saying aspertame isn’t that big a deal. What it only “poisens you a little?”
Would anyone in there right mind say that to a dog owner about frogs? Don’t worry about your dog biting a frog, they only have the potential of being slightly poisened? ……
How did our nation, with all it’s ability, become one of such gullability? >sigh<