McDonald’s Rejects Anti-Obesity Campaign, ‘Proud’ of ‘Responsible’ Menu

After shareholders proposed altering the McDonald’s menu to help cut down on climbing obesity rates, particularly childhood obesity rates, it was quickly rejected by both the corporate board and retiring Chief Executive Jim Skinner. Instead of adopting the policy, which was actually drafted in an attempt to enhance worker productivity and overall quality of life, the former CEO instead stated that he was ‘proud’ of McDonald’s menu changes. The quote was matched by the incoming CEO Don Thompson, who stated that the food options were very ‘responsible’.

If you are even slightly familiar with the ingredients present in foods on the McDonald’s menu (yes, even ‘healthy’ salads), then it is obvious to you why these statements are outwardly fictitious. In fact, you need only to examine what exactly makes up a ‘chicken nugget’ at McDonald’s. You would imagine that a chicken nugget would contain the base ingredients of bread, chicken, and some seasoning. In reality, however, the ‘chicken nugget’ contains toxic substances that have contributed to its reputation as one of the worst food items on the planet.

The ‘meat’ of a McNugget is actually compromised of 7 different ingredients, many of which have their own sub-ingredients. Real chicken is not even the main ingredient in this ‘flesh formula’, but hazardous and genetically modified ingredients. Sodium phosphate, safflower oil, wheat starch, dextrose, and a particularly dangerous substance known as autolyzed yeast extract all go into making the ‘meat’. It is interesting to note that autolyzed yeast extract is similar to MSG, or monosodium glutamate.

Disturbingly, these are not the worst chemicals found in McNuggets. Dimethylpolysiloxane, a type of silicone, is added as an anti-foaming agent to the nuggets. This is the same ingredient that is used in breast implants and silly putty (and is now being phased out due to health concerns), and this ingredient is now marketed towards children — one-third of which are obese. Apparently ‘responsible’ menu items mean serving kids chemicals that were even considered unsafe in breast implants.

McDonald’s higher ups state that their meal choices are both highly responsible and many revolve around ‘fruits and vegetables’. What they fail to mention is the large number of industrial chemicals and contaminants that inhabit their food, and the food found in all fast food restaurants.