I work at mcdonalds. if you saw how much grease is used and some of the stuff they have...

Like huge tubs of vegetable oil, for the fries... it's nasty.

But it's true, McDonalds tastes good. it's just horrible for you.

And marketing does play a big part. But think of all the workers who work at McDonald's if you stopped marketing it, the sales would go down, and i'd lose my job.
Any way, it's bad, and they should cut down on the marketing...

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Children certainly can't make informed, rational decisions about nutrition at such young ages, but I would imagine if parents forcefully asserted an anti-McDonald's platform, the advertising would not win out.

I'd agree with you but only until the child reached anywhere between 3rd and 5th grades. Then they stop listening to their parents and more on the media and friends. In the end I would say advertising would win except in the few cases of those who have decided on their own that McDonalds might not be the best decision. Most people don't have the confidence to make decisions on their own or really care enough to think about what they are eating

Whatever; McDonalds is awesome. They're just haters.

Seriously though, that's a really interesting article. I guess there's nothing really wrong with marketing your products (because how else are people gonna find out about them?) and there's also that whole freedom of speech/freedom of press thing. But they are influencing the children to eat more unhealthy foods, so I guess some sort of action should be taken.

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On the bright side, it stands to reason that the reverse may be true--if fruit and vegetable producers had some kickass marketing, children just might start to like them.

If my parents would've told me broccoli was candy instead of a vegetable, I probably would've eaten it.

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Originally posted by Meagan87:
This is even the case too with alcohol and cigarettes. Fortunately, they are no longer able to advertise for cigarettes on television, but I personally think the largest problem is with the glamorization of alcohol directed to teenagers.

I agree that the glamorization of alcohol to teenagers is a problem, but it's a very different situation than the glamorization of McDonald's to preschoolers. In my experience, young children are a lot more likely to accept what they hear from a trusted source -- be it a parent or the TV -- as objective truth. I really believe plenty of teenagers possess and exercise the skills to responsibly consume alcohol. They're the ones you don't see on the news.

Even (and maybe especially) at very young ages, children trust their parents more than anyone on earth. Children certainly can't make informed, rational decisions about nutrition at such young ages, but I would imagine if parents forcefully asserted an anti-McDonald's platform, the advertising would not win out.

Freaky as hell article, in any case.

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Products, in an ideal world, would be marketed only to individuals capable of responsibly consuming them. That's not the case here.

This is even the case too with alcohol and cigarettes. Fortunately, they are no longer able to advertise for cigarettes on television, but I personally think the largest problem is with the glamorization of alcohol directed to teenagers.

Censorship can be in the public's best interest. Especially when we are talking about children, many of whom don't have parents who seem to care at all, it can be necessary for the legislature to take action.