On page 5 of the California Dietetic Association newsletter, I came across this advertisement from McDonald's. The tag line "wonderfully wholesome" refers to the four menu items pictured on the ad: fruit and maple oatmeal, fruit and walnut salad, fruit and yogurt parfait, and apple dippers (um, where are the vegetables?). That's four items...FOUR...from a menu of over 145 items. We all know there are more than four "wholesome" offerings on their menu (let's not forget all of the veggie salads which come complete with artery-clogging dressing), but one would assume these four to be some of the healthiest options out there.
REALLY, California Dietetic Association, REALLY?! Am I, and other dietitians/health professionals, that stupid to think that McDonald's actually serves wholesome food?? Could you not have found a different company from which to earn advertising income?
Let's start with the least egregious thing pictured here: fruit and walnut salad, two of nature's bounties, right? Not when McD's gets its hands on them. At 210 calories and 25 grams of sugar for a *snack size* serving, you might want to shy away. But the worst part is that the "yogurt dipping sauce" is full of sugar. Next up: the apple dippers. Fresh apple with...what's that?? artificially flavored caramel dipping sauce. What's wrong with just plain apple? sigh... Let's now tackle the fruit and yogurt parfait. "Parfait" is French for "perfect" so this must be the perfect snack, non? Guess again. 160 calories (not bad), 85mg sodium (why do they insist on putting salt in a sweet product?!), and 21 grams of sugar. Doesn't sound so bad! Except when you compare it to vanilla ice cream, which has less calories, less sodium, and less sugar per serving. Speaking of sugar, two out of the top three ingredients in the parfait are sugar and fructose (sugar). I saved the best for last: fruit and maple oatmeal. Mark Bittman tore this apart in his NYT article. He talks about how this "oatmeal" has more sugar than a candy bar per serving, and has virtually no fiber (real oatmeal contains quite a bit of soluble fiber per serving--the reason why it's so good for your cholesterol). With nearly 300 calories, 180 unnecessary milligrams of sodium (twice that of the parfait), and 32 grams of sugar, you're better off ordering a bowl of ice cream for breakfast.
So, again I say to you, dear California Dietetic Association: REALLY?! Do you really think I'm so dumb that I'm going to give you my money so you can stay "in bed" with industry? Do you really think McDonald's is in the business of offering healthy food? Do you really think I'm going to recommend my clients patronize a multi-billion dollar industry that has single-handedly destroyed the health of America because you made some money off of selling a few square inches of ad space? Guess again.
Nice post. To play devil's advocate, the ADA/CADA is probably allowing food company sponsorships because frankly, it's a nonprofit that has to get money from somewhere. The alternative would be our dues going up. I see both sides of this debate, and haven't quite figured out a good solution. Would you say that sponsorship of FNCE is ethically worse than the CADA journal ad? At least the journal ad is transparent (most people may not realize who's behind a conference session).
ReplyDeleteRelatedly: http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/04/american-dietetic-association-partners.html
Oh, I think any dietetic/health association being sponsored by industry is wrong. Imagine the American Cancer Association being sponsored by Big Tobacco--conflict of interest, non? Of course I understand *why* they allow it, but there has to be a better way. Unless and until they come up with an alternative, I am boycotting attending such conferences.
ReplyDeleteMcD's does an amazing job of corporate speak and with its full pockets has unfortunately seemingly snookered the ADA. I'm already so irritated with Cindy Goody, McD's RD, spouting off about how "healthy" the food is! Why, she claims she eats it 1-2 times per week! She eats a burger and cookie and maybe an Egg McMuffin, as well as those preservative-laden apples! MMmmmm, tasty! Lots of sodium and hydrogenated oils. Her young child is now learning to love it too! Her proof that it's healthy? "I was able to lose all my baby weight," Ah, because that is the only marker for health. GO figure, Cindy. You have all these wonderful credentials and letters behind your name and this is what you deliver? Oh and FYI, Go on and google Mimi Kirk, who may be extreme, but as a vegan does all she can to go against the mainstream American eating trends....who is blooming and radiant at age 74. Then check out Cindy Goody, who looks aged and pale at...what, forty something? She may eat her words yet.
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