Macdonalds

[21st Century Fox]

That assumes some pretty poor parenting. McDonalds in moderation isn't unhealthy. Obesity comes from prolonged excessive consumption. Parents are easily able to see that their kid is getting fat and should cut it out. It's no different to a kid eating too much chocolate. You wouldn't blame Mars if some idiot got fat after eating 30 Mars bars a day for ten years, would you?

And we all know there are some pretty poor parents, who probably had some pretty poor parents. Mars don't have a clown as their spokesman and give away free toys with each purchase. Why do they market to children at all then?

I'm not saying ban McDonalds, I'm just questioning their marketing.

[Rincewind]

Poor parents would still be poor parents if there was no McDonalds or Mars bars. Would you blame Gary Lineker for City fans eating Walkers crisps? (don't answer the question is rhetorical)

[Captain...]

Taste is subjective, obviously. I enjoy fine foods but I also enjoy a McBurger now and then. I don't kid myself that it's haute cuisine but I take it for what it is and enjoy it a lot.

The healthy alternatives are there, but people choose Maccy's above them in many cases. They do this because they enjoy it.

Regarding the marketing - they are a massive company so of course they're going to do marketing. Most of their marketing is just centred around informing people about new products, which is necessary and harmless. Yes they do huge corporate sponsorship deals (Olympics etc) but that's what large multinational businesses do. Of course they're going to market to children as they make up a substantial proportion of their core demographic.

As for the jobs, you wouldn't expect them to pay top whack. If their pay was inadequate, nobody would work there. The bigger problem is fussy fvckers who consider themselves 'above' working in McDonalds and look down on the people that do. Further to this, they are widely acknowledged as being a very good employer with ample opportunity for training, development and promotion.

They could barely be any more transparent if they tried. In every outlet, the prices and even now the calorie contents are openly displayed. They provide leaflets documenting where they source their ingredients (who else does this) and offer healthy alternatives in many forms.

They sell millions of burgers every day because people choose to eat there out of their own free will.

I understand your dislike for fast food culture but that is your own choice / taste.

PS: I do not, nor have I ever, worked for McDonalds!

Is it because they enjoy it or is it because it is cheap, fast, instantly recognisable and readily available?

As a McDonalds fan do you think they are nicer burgers than an average pub burger? Wetherspoons beer and burger offer for example?

I do think people will go there with their kids because it saves time, they don't have to cope with bored kids while waiting for the food, you get in, get your burger and eat it and you can be out again in 10 minutes. It also appeals to people out on their own who are hungry and don't fancy eating by themselves.

As mentioned with their transparency they have to because there have been so many dodgy stories about the content and quality of their meat, when an McDonalds advert recently claimed that their chickn burgers were now made with 100% chicken it really did make you wonder what was in it before. Although what it is made with now is pretty grim:

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It is also very very unhealthy, and yes it is not McDonalds' fault that some people have such little respect for their bodies that they will eat at McDonads every day, but they are responsible for making it affordable to do so, and use the cheapest possible ingredients to do so, I mean even the whole condept is flawed, I'm going to cook something then leave it standing for over an hour until someone actually orders 1, anyone who has worked in McDonalds will tell you that food is often left out longer than it should, which I think is 2 hours, and still sell it.

This is the other problem I have with them, or at least with the lack of options for teenagers, where can a 16 year old get something to eat, can't go to pubs, not really welcome in restaraunts, don't really have any money so you go to McDonalds. At least now there is Subway which offer some real food for a decent price.

PS I have never worked for McDonalds either I applied for Redhill roundabout but I never got the job, maybe I am just bitter.

[FrankieADZ]

i dont mind the break on the very very very very very odd occasion.

Oh...the ice creams are nice i have to admit.

[MooseBreath]

So what are you suggesting, shrapnel, that McDonalds should carry an 18+ rating? That food which has the potential to cause someone to become obese if eaten in excess should be made prohibitively expensive?

[Mack]

All these stories about what's in Mcdonald's food is bollocks I'm affraid.

They clearly and openly advertise the ingredients in all their food and if they told even on little tiny lie they would have enough law suits to fill a court for years.

[MrFox781]

I eat at McDonalds at least three times a week.

[Rincewind]

They don't really class as restaurants though do they? No tablecloths for the kids tpo spill their drinks or wipe their saucy hands on. No waitress hovering around so they can get the next customer seated. No one complaining about the kids screaming their heads off. No plates to wash for the staff. Convenience for all. Because of the quick customer turn over they can charge less. High standars are not expected by the customer. If they wanted high cuisine they would go to a gourmet restaurant but I'm not sure they want the lower class type of clientèle

[21st Century Fox]

I remember visiting someone at Southampton Hospital and saw a Burger King inside on the ground floor. After seeing that I half expected to see a few cigarette vending machines outside the wards.

[Bellend Sebastian]

I had my first McDonald's in 1983 after going to see Return of the Jedi in Canterbury. I had a Cheeseburger and cried when my Dad told me off when I wouldn't eat it because it had diced onions in it. If that's not a reason to close the bastards down I don't know what is

[ScouseFox]

McDonald's is fantastic on the occasion that I go. Usually pissed on the way home from a night out in the back of a cab. 24 hour Maccies are amazing.

[Charl91]

I love Mcdonalds. I probably only go there once every 3 months or so (simply because I don't want to get fat), but their food tastes good (regardless of what the food snobs say), it's cheap and it's convinient. I was also pleasently suprised by the calorie contents last time I checked - not nearly as bad as I thought. My large meal was under 1000 calories, so under 50% of my daily allowance.

[Rincewind]

Not been for a while, maybe years so maybe they have improved. The name just puts me off for some reason. Maybe it's because they are associated with tackiness. If I am out tomorrow I will make an effort and go for a big Mac or something then I may update my opinion appropriately.

[sphericalfox]

Big Macs give me a limp gherkin every time. Rubber pickles are not relished in my condiments. Dirty bastards!

[Captain...]

So what are you suggesting, shrapnel, that McDonalds should carry an 18+ rating? That food which has the potential to cause someone to become obese if eaten in excess should be made prohibitively expensive?

No, I would like to see healthy, affordable alternatives for teens, and places that make them more welcome. The problem is that if these existed they would get shouted down by the McDonalds impressive, agressive marketing strategy, this also applies to BK and KFC. The alternatives for young people are greasy spoons, wetherspoons/pub grub, chippy, fast food outlet, Greggs. Any healthy Cafes/restaurants are either too snobby or too expensive. The exception is Subway, but this wasn't an option when I was a kid. the problem is 2 fold, 1 the barriers to entry created by the current behemoths, McDonalds etc. 2 the fact that shitty low quality food is so much cheaper to produce than heathy fresh food. Not McDonalds fault the second one.

I love Mcdonalds. I probably only go there once every 3 months or so (simply because I don't want to get fat), but their food tastes good (regardless of what the food snobs say), it's cheap and it's convinient. I was also pleasently suprised by the calorie contents last time I checked - not nearly as bad as I thought. My large meal was under 1000 calories, so under 50% of my daily allowance.

I hope you know there is more to healthy eating than calorie counting.

Big Macs give me a limp gherkin every time. Rubber pickles are not relished in my condiments. Dirty bastards!

It has been alleged the put the gherkin in to give it nutritional value, or to mask/overpower the lack of/bad taste.

I can't find anything with any authority on the subject but the urban myth is that with the high sugar content a big mac without a gherkin would actually be classed as a dessert.

[Tom17LCFC]

It has been alleged the put the gherkin in to give it nutritional value, or to mask/overpower the lack of/bad taste.

I can't find anything with any authority on the subject but the urban myth is that with the high sugar content a big mac without a gherkin would actually be classed as a dessert.

It's not. When I go to McDonalds I'll usually have a plain big mac, and it tastes fine. I enjoy the taste myself, not a patch on Maryland though

[Rincewind]

I bought some quorn chicken pieces last week. They were frozen and used them in stews and a curry or two. Did not notice any specific taste as there were other ingedients including soup mince spices etc. If this option was a lot cheaper than the real meat choices I may have it more often but only in what I mentioned above when taste is hidden.

[Stig the Lawnmower]

it's the limp bread!! you pick it up, the 'bread' flops and everything falls out. why can't they have fresh cobs ! I know, cos they can't keep 'em for 2 or three weeks without going off.

it's not bread as we know it, is it?

[Stig the Lawnmower]

I bought some quorn chicken pieces last week. They were frozen and used them in stews and a curry or two. Did not notice any specific taste as there were other ingedients including soup mince spices etc. If this option was a lot cheaper than the real meat choices I may have it more often but only in what I mentioned above when taste is hidden.

bit of a contradiciton in terms there, they will never have been near a piece of chicken. they only make them so vegitarians can have something tasty!

only joking! some veggie meals are good, veggie curry surprisingly so.

[AoWW]

Gotta laugh at how uptight some people get over this, though. If you don't like it, don't eat it. I've never liked KFC but I've never found the need to bang on about it.

[Rincewind]

Only reason I got the Quorn was I bought it in a local Tesco EXpress and the choice they had compared to what cash had was small. Just under £2 and I managed to squeeze about 3 meals out of the packet after adding other stuff of course. It was either the Quorn chicken or mince.

[Stig the Lawnmower]

Gotta laugh at how uptight some people get over this, though. If you don't like it, don't eat it. I've never liked KFC but I've never found the need to bang on about it.

you're right. I only started this thread cos I don't like 'em, loads of people do and tha's fine by me, if we all had the same taste it would be weird. Been some good replies though!!!

Thinking about it, I would rather have a big mac ahead of a brussel sprout, what are they all about?

[Charl91]

People know the risks of eating Mcdonalds regularly. If they do, then it's their own fault.

[Captain...]

People know the risks of eating Mcdonalds regularly. If they do, then it's their own fault.

Do they? because McDonald's make a very good job trying to make people believe otherwise.

People also know the dangers of smoking and drinking, and we heavily regulate and try and control that.

[HEGGSY]

It's not. When I go to McDonalds I'll usually have a plain big mac, and it tastes fine. I enjoy the taste myself, not a patch on Maryland though

Maryland I can only imagine the shit they put in their food and then pass it off as "chicken"