First people wanted to ban gay marriage, and now they want to
ban french fries.
McDonald’s, the largest fast-food chain in the world, will
stop selling Super Size fries and drinks in its restaurants by the
end of the year. The Super Size portion, which offers a 42-ounce
soda along with a seven-ounce carton of fries, is being eliminated
in part to “support a balanced lifestyle.” Personally,
nothing says balanced more to me than gracefully caring a tray
loaded with six cheeseburgers, six jumbo orders of fries and
gallons of Mr. Pibb.
Fast-food chains like McDonald’s have long been accused of
super sizing the American public. With over half of the
country’s population either overweight or clinically obese,
critics have sought to punish fast-food giants for providing such
fatty foods.
Two lawsuits were filed last year by overweight individuals in
New York, alleging that McDonald’s hid the health risks of
eating its foods. Both cases were dismissed without merit. It is
rumored that in one case, the judge called for order and the
plaintiffs each replied “Big Mac.”
Despite the overwhelming perception that the portion reduction
is an effort to appease the fitness-minded, McDonald’s
executives claim the move was also done in part to simplify the
current McDonald’s menu. By eliminating unpopular items and
streamlining the choices, the consumer will more easily be able to
choose a meal.
If McDonald’s executives are truly interested in
simplifying the menu, then might I suggest they start with changing
the name of the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese to simply, the
Half Pounder with Cheese. When I am ordering a cheeseburger, the
last thing I want to do is multiply fractions.
Over the last few years, McDonald’s has made strides in
portraying itself as a health-friendly establishment. One such
innovation was the 39-cent hamburger ““ a burger with so
little meat in it that even a vegan wouldn’t notice.
McDonald’s found success last year by offering a variety of
entree salads. They also changed their classic Chicken McNuggets to
all-white meat. Sounds a little racist to me.
This year, the company plans to launch a line of Happy Meals
geared toward adults. The new “Go Active!” serving
contains a nutritious spread and even comes with health advice from
a fitness expert. Tip No. 1 could be, “Don’t eat at
McDonald’s.”
Is this seriously how far society has fallen? Have we actually
forced restaurants to stop serving food because, heaven forbid,
patrons will eat it?
There is an obesity problem in the United States. No one denies
that. Record levels of heart disease and cancer can be traced to a
poor American diet. Upwards of 300,000 premature deaths occur every
year as a result of excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle.
Furthermore, $90 billion is spent annually on health care costs
related to obesity. More so than ever, Americans need to be
concerned about what they are eating.
That said, the solution does not rest in cutting over-eaters off
at the source. If customers feel they are not completely satisfied
by their meal, they will either order more food or go somewhere
else. In the long run, this move by McDonald’s sends the
wrong message that corporations are solely responsible for the
public’s health.
Blame for obesity should not be passed around like leftover
fries. Each and every American needs to examine what is best for
his or her health and act accordingly ““ we should not wait
for an outside party to come along and solve the problem.
The landscape of the short-order cooking industry is changing.
Maybe Fatburger will soon change its name to Glandular-problem
Burger. Perhaps Subway weight-loss guru Jared Fogle will become
John Kerry’s running mate. The possibilities are endless. But
among all these changes, current and future, an important message
must not be lost: People are responsible for their own well
being.
If it is fast food that has made you fat, then stop eating fast
food!
Pfohl is a fourth-year history and political science
student. E-mail him at jpfohl@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments
to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.