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Corporate Accountability International will release a report on Wednesday looking at how McDonald's uses Ronald McDonald as a marketing tool to market unhealthy products to children. The report includes information on childhood obesity rates, health and how Americans see Ronald McDonald.
"For nearly 50 years McDonald's and its iconic clown Ronald have hooked kids on unhealthy food, spurring a deadly epidemic," Deborah Lapidus, senior organizer for CAI, told Slashfood.
"The report is ultimately making the case that it's time McDonald's stopped targeting our kids directly with fast food marketing," Lapidus said. "Ronald deserves a break and so do we."
McDonald's, however, says Ronald McDonald is a "beloved brand ambassador" for the fast-food chain. "He is the heart and soul of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which lends a helping hand to families in their time of need, particularly when families need to be near their critically-ill children in hospitals. In fact, 4 million children are helped every year around the world through the Ronald McDonald House Charities," the company told Slashfood in a statement.
"Ronald also helps deliver messages to families on many important subjects such as safety, literacy, and the importance of physical activity and making balanced food choices."
Corporate Accountability International plans to hold nearly two dozen events at McDonald's restaurants and at colleges around the country Wednesday as it announces the contents of its report on Ronald McDonald, the Tribune reported.
Events are being held in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Greensboro, N.C., Minneapolis, San Francisco and Burlington, Vt., among other locations.
"Ultimately we want to reverse an epidemic that is taking the lives of millions of people every year," Lapidus told Slashfood. That begins, she said, with eliminating the "cradle to grave" marketing of unhealthy food.
The advocacy group has also launched campaigns against bottled water and tobacco companies.
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3-30-2010 @5:39PM Terry said... Too much influence? As opposed to what? Parents actually making thier kids behave and eat whats good for them? You poor, simple, bastards!
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3-30-2010 @5:46PM p said... I only eat McDonald's because of that clown, he offered me a free burger to get me hooked years ago and now I am an addict!! Oh, wait it is my CHOICE to eat there and also my CHOICE to let my child eat there? Well, geeze
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3-30-2010 @5:45PM mnv said... Seriously, its the parents fault not the company. Is ronald McDonald himself buying the food for them and feeding your child happy meals? Nope, that would be what the parents are doing. It disgusts me how people make more effort trying not to be accountable for their children's well being rather than actually using that energy to be good parents. If they like chicken nuggets so much stay at home and make them chicken tenders from real chicken! If they want that cheeseburger so bad then make them one youself with lean beef or even turkey and real cheese!
Dont be weak, i know that ear piercing shriek children make in a tantrum is horrible but you just gotta be firm and say "No, we arent eating fast food" This goes for time on the computer and video game time as well. They even have computer programs limiting a child's time on both so there is no excuse.
Dont try to blame video games for obesity either, especially since we have physically active games now and the Nintendo Wii. Or how about this? How about actually going out and playing with your kids? Theyll be more inclined to play if you want to play with them or even if your just sitting watching them.
Stop looking for a scapegoat and actually be parents!
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3-30-2010 @5:57PM kevin said... It seems to me that there are far more pressing issues in this country that Ronald McDonald.
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3-30-2010 @6:01PM No one special said... That's just stupid. Even as a child of 5, I realized the character, Ronald McDonald, was a marketing ploy. "He" didn't influence my decision to eat McDonald's food ever.
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3-30-2010 @6:02PM nana7 said... Kids think of McD as Happy meals, not Ronald.. Kids do ask for milk and applkes, parents quite often say frys and coke.. Parents get upset because new toys aren't out daily. Parents also stop in and buy several happy meals to take home to their kids.. Ronald McDonald is connected to the house.. Kids are always dropping change in the collection box.. Retire Ronald and it will hurt the house.. Truth is parents are lazy when it comes to cooking.. Go after the schools who serve sweeten cereals and honey buns and such to the kids for breakfast, leave Ronald alone..
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3-30-2010 @6:12PM ANTHONY said... I wanted to post here because I feel everyone should know my family story. The Ronald McDonald house in San Diego is selling tickets for a raffel for a house. I lost my house to Katrina while I served in Iraq. I now rent as I can not get financed because of this. I also lost my military security clerance on top of it. This would not be so bad but we have a 13 year old who does not walk or talk. Make a wish granted her a wish to go to Disney World that was for her as well as my other children as we wanted memories of more than just going and being at the hospital. I sure wish we would have thought about what we were asking as I would have asked for something diffrent for her. I had the electric company out today wanting money I do not have. The medical equipment I use is the only reason they did not shut the power off. If you would like to help shoot me an email
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3-31-2010 @9:44AM Chris said... Deborah Lapidus=A$$ Clown!!! Pun intended!!
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3-30-2010 @6:15PM eric said... you food police a-holes need to mind your own damned lives and stay the hell outta mine. PS, F bomb all you food police...... rant over
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3-31-2010 @9:28AM Michelle O'Mealy said... Hey he's not Joe Camel pushing cigarettes into the mouth of babes and millions more adults! Yes, he is a bit creepy. The parents have to be on alert as to what they feed their children. It's not like Ronald is on the street corner luring children to the golden arches...well, the executives are! But that's where the concerns should be, parents taking control, not some shady "watchdog" group whose interests are not yet revealed! On an end note, The Ronald McDonald house has done great things.
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3-30-2010 @6:20PM Sandra said... Oh, my goodness!!! I suppose next on the activist's list will be Poppin' Fresh and The Keebler Elf.
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3-30-2010 @7:36PM Kathy said... McDonalds has been down sizing the size of all its food and portions, how can you get fat, only poor, don't eat there they are ripping you off and charging you more for less! Yes parents make their children fat!
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3-30-2010 @6:40PM Jan Rayl said... Are you kidding me? Now we are going to blame poor parenting on a clown?
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3-30-2010 @6:21PM boomer said... why don't people quit picking on fast food joints .
explain the difference to me between a big mac and a double burger i cook on my grill in the back yard . explain to me the difference between mcdonalds fries and the ore-ida shoestrings i fry in my own oil . explain to me the difference between a der weinerschnitzel chili cheese dog and chili cheese fries and the ones i make at home . explain the difference between the 20oz. rib eye and loaded baked potato i get at outback and the ones i broil at home . ditto for deserts . explain the difference between the sweet tea mcdonalds offers and the southern cajun sweet iced tea i am known for in my neighborhood .
the restaurant has absolutely NOTHING to do with obesity ; it is what we put in our mouths in the first place . i don't eat fast food only because i can cook it cheaper . fried chicken and fried fish is the same whether at kfc or at home .
if the government is going to start taxing soda and fast foods then start the tax at the source . tax ALL hamburger , tax ALL hot dogs , tax ALL potatos , tax ALL sugar and corn syrup and maple syrup , tax ALL cookies and cakes and pies ; just don't pick on the restaurants that serve those too lazy to do it themselves ; that is descrimination .
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3-30-2010 @6:23PM Jack said... I can't stand all you "activist/pressure groups" ( agitators was the old and better word for you) No one elected you to represent anybody. You are nothing but a bunch of pushy bolsheviks who need to mind your own business. Die off.
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3-30-2010 @6:55PM dancenownzen said... The governmnet should BAN
McDonalds
Burger King
KFC
WENDY's
PIZZA HUT
and ALL of this CRAP that has no nutritional value.
A diet on these foods is killing our country, driving up health care and altering brain chemistry.
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3-30-2010 @6:29PM me said... the freak is demonic and gives me nightmares so its fine with me
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4-11-2010 @9:58PM Ricky said... ENOUGH!! ENOUGH!! It's not time to retire Ronald McDonald. It's time to CRUSH the self-appointed watchdog groups who wield power that comes from we-know-not-where -- unelected, unwanted, unverifiable, and UNWELCOME!! I am SICK and TIRED of being dictated to by creeps who are constantly telling me that the sky is falling, and that the government is the answer to everything. I am past the point of discussion, and very nearly past the point of simply voting, since it seems to do no good. DO NOT walk up to me and claim to be a part of this organization, or I may risk an assault charge, and WHIP YOUR ASS!!! To all members of Corporate Accountability International -- GO HOME, SHUT UP AND EAT WHAT YOU WANT!! LEAVE US THE HELL ALONE!!!! I DON'T NEED YOUR WISDOM!! I NEED YOUR SILENCE!!!!!
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3-30-2010 @6:41PM Buzz said... Wow Jennifer, what no ideas for good stories. Kids eat what their parents feed them, in most cases parents order for their kids. On the other hand there are healthy food choices availible in the Happy Meal Apples high in vitamin C, instead of fries and grilled cheese or snack wrap instead of a burger and an apple juice box instead of a soda. The ice cream is reduced fat ice cream and fruit yogurt is obtainable. Their is good food at McDonalds, overweight people are NOT buying it. Should McDonalds ban fat people from eating McDonalds food. The New McDonalds, featuring the McScale. It is in front of the doors, if you are too fat the doors won't open.
http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/eat.html
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3-30-2010 @6:41PM Carolyn said... The Ronald McDonald clown is not driving your car to the drive-thru window or kidnapping your children and locking them inside your local McDonald's restaurant and force-feeding them Happy Meals. Grow up and take responsibility for your actions. Children eat what they like but they only know they like McDonald's because their parents feed it to them....bottom line.
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