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McDonald's Goes For The Gold With 'Favorites Under 400'

A corporate spokesman from McDonald's says they saw an opportunity to communicate with their consumers about the calories in their food, but critics say the Olympics sponsor isn't exactly a fitting image of fitness.

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Fasting and Fast Food

During Lent, many strict Catholics will give up eating meat of Fridays however, according to Americancatholic.org (and old-timers ‘round the world), meat is not to be consumed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as well. According to the website, “In 1966 Pope Paul VI reorganized the Church's practice of public penance in his "Apostolic Constitution on Penance" (Poenitemini). The 1983 revision of the Code of Canon Law incorporated the changes made by Pope Paul. Not long after that, the U.S. bishops applied the canonical requirements to the practice of public penance in our country. To sum up those requirements, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.” If you want to talk with other Catholics about this at-times-controversial topic, join this forum. Fast Food While all this not-eating meat talk is riveting, did you know that it’s also the reason McDonald’s lover’s round the world have the Filet-O-Fish? As highlighted by USA Today, the history of the Filet-O-Fish is just as much a Catholic observance as it is a money-making tale. In the early 1960s, Cincinnati-based MacDonald’s franchise owner, Lou Groen was failing as a business owner; the high amount of Catholics in his area would not eat meat because of the Lent season and he had to think fast. McDonald’s founder Roy Croc wanted Groen to serve a “Hula” burger – a meatless, pineapple sandwich between buns – and the business owner was set on serving a fish sandwich. By now you can guess which sandwich was a success… 300 million served a year and counting…. McDonalds

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During Lent, many strict Catholics will give up eating meat of Fridays however, according to Americancatholic.org (and old-timers ‘round the world), meat is not to be consumed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as well. According to the website, “In 1966 Pope Paul VI reorganized the Church's practice of public penance in his "Apostolic Constitution on Penance" (Poenitemini). The 1983 revision of the Code of Canon Law incorporated the changes made by Pope Paul. Not long after that, the U.S. bishops applied the canonical requirements to the practice of public penance in our country. To sum up those requirements, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.” If you want to talk with other Catholics about this at-times-controversial topic, join this forum. Fast Food While all this not-eating meat talk is riveting, did you know that it’s also the reason McDonald’s lover’s round the world have the Filet-O-Fish? As highlighted by USA Today, the history of the Filet-O-Fish is just as much a Catholic observance as it is a money-making tale. In the early 1960s, Cincinnati-based MacDonald’s franchise owner, Lou Groen was failing as a business owner; the high amount of Catholics in his area would not eat meat because of the Lent season and he had to think fast. McDonald’s founder Roy Croc wanted Groen to serve a “Hula” burger – a meatless, pineapple sandwich between buns – and the business owner was set on serving a fish sandwich. By now you can guess which sandwich was a success… 300 million served a year and counting….

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If you walked into McDonald’s this week and ordered a meal, you may have noticed a menu board announcing their “Favorites under 400.”

According to a story by AdAge, the campaign is being coupled with their Olympics sponsorship. This also the first time you can order McDonald’s food and know the calorie count at the point of purchase.

Heather Oldani, director-U.S. communications at McDonald's told AdAge: "We know that we have the opportunity to help our customers feel that much better about the items they're choosing at McDonald's.”

The menu board features items that are 400, 300, 200 and 100 calories or less. The list includes everything from Filet o’ Fish, chicken sandwich, French fries, yogurt parfait and smoothies. The amount of fat grams and other nutritional information isn’t offered up on the menu board, but is included on the sandwich wrappers and French fry packaging, and the McDonald’s website.

Critics took issue with McDonald’s pairing some of the menu choices being categorized as healthy as they sponsored the Olympics.

Terence Stephenson, a spokesman for the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges told the Huffington Post: "It's very sad that an event that celebrates the very best of athletic achievements should be sponsored by companies contributing to the obesity problem and unhealthy habits."

The campaign is expected to run through Aug. 13. However, this may a prelude to government mandates as the restaurant industry may be required to divulge calorie counts by the Food and Drug Administration as part of the 2010 health-care reform.

Related Topics: Favorites under 400, Heather Oldani, McDonald's, Olympics, Olympics 2012, and Terence Stephenson

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AWD

6:16 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Eat Mor Chikin! Even though we don't have a Chik-Fil-A near us go online, buy something from Chik-Fil-A on Wednesay, August 1st or sooner. If homo-sexuals don’t like Chik-Fil-A, don’t eat there. That’s their choice. Just as it’s the choice of the owners of Chik-Fil-A to believe homosexual marriage is wrong. This boycott and hissy fit from moisturizing males, hairy lesbian women, and food-stamp liberals means only one thing for Chik-Fil-A; their sales are about to skyrocket!

Heather Asiyanbi

7:44 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

@AWD - what does Chik-Fil-A have to do with this story? Let's stay on topic, please.

St. Swithin

9:39 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

When has AWD ever been on topic?

James R Hoffa

10:27 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

You just can't find this kind of commentary else where on the net ;-)

Steve ®

11:30 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Amazing

Craig

2:19 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

"Would you like a side of pink slime with that?"

C. Sanders

3:52 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Would rather see fat grams, than calorie count.

St. Swithin

9:42 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

For better or worse, McD's has been a part of the Olympics for a long time. When I was at the 1996 games McD's had five locations in the Olympic village. All of them were quite popular with the athletes. The golden arches are recognized world-wide, so for many athletes it's a little bit of home in a strange land. Ironic, I know.

Randy1949

11:23 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Heh -- reminds me of John Belushi and his 'little chocolate donuts' on his Olympic training table.

There is really no problem with eating McDonald's food as long as you work it off.

AWD

9:46 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

It's a fast food topic (McDonalds), my rant is about fast food.

Heather Asiyanbi

6:22 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

@AWD - the top is McDonald's and their new displays giving customers calorie counts and whether or not this means better health potential for those who eat there. Nothing about Chik-Fil-A in that.

Terry

11:50 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

While I consider AWD slightly above squirrels on the evolutionary ladder, I have to go with him on this one.

Of all the topics that you guys have let wander all over the map, this is the one you decide to keep "on topic"?

Didn't check the banners, are they a sponsor? ;-)

Mike Knight

11:10 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

I predict McDonalds will be the first restaurant in space, the first on the Moon, and on Mars as well. In 2066 the McMoon Burger is the number one sandwich for lunar citizens.

Greg

11:58 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

How many calories are in a large Tang?

Bren

12:04 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

If memory serves, wasn't Howard Johnson's featured on the lunar station in 2001: A Space Odyssey? The famous orange and turquoise logo.

If Newt Gingrich gets his Moon Colony, at least we know which jewelry store will have the first space franchise! ; )

James R Hoffa

12:14 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

@Bren -

That is correct - the Howard Johnson on board Space Station V was a restaurant. And Hilton ran the on-board hotel.

BTW - Where are the citations you owe me?

Bren

1:06 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Thought so. I also appreciated how the Colonial One stewards' uniforms from Battlestar Galactica were an homage to those from 2001.

Re: Citations, what's that Bible passage about "casting pearls before swine?" In this case, I'm being asked to cast my "pearls" before a "skimmer."

James R Hoffa

1:48 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

@Bren -

You usually cite your sources, but not anymore - how come?

And how exactly is Hoffa a "skimmer?"

While you may claim that your assertions about Ryan's budget are simply opinion, asserting that either the P2P or the budget bill itself 1) expressly exempts members of Congress; and 2) gives $43B in tax breaks to oil companies, are not subjective stances. They either exist in the primary source documents or they don't - objective fact! Same goes for your allegations about the Walker administration awarding Georgia Pacific and Diane Hendricks tax breaks outside the job creation program.

Again, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not their own facts. Are you honestly trying to claim objective assertions as merely representing an opinion?

If that's the case, then I have to ask how exactly Ryan would accomplish such directives without them being included in the actual bill that he drafted? Does Ryan have some kind of Jedi mind control over everyone else on the planet? And you don't see how you're perpetuating a conspiracy theory - come on Bren, you're smarter than that! Or at least I thought you were.

You have both the P2P and the budget bill. And I have no idea where you came up with the crap about Walker and the tax breaks for GP/Hendricks. You stated "I said I would mark through the P2P plan over the weekend and I will."

So, where are the citations?

Just admit that you were wrong and gain some integrity.

Randy1949

11:21 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Judging food by calorie count is stupid. We require calories to live, and the important factor is whether those calories are empty or not. McDonald's isn't telling us that. Their higher calories offerings might actually have more protein (something you need to live) in them than the lower calorie ones.

Bren

12:05 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

All I have to say about McDonalds is this: Serve breakfast all day.

James R Hoffa

12:14 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

I'm with you on this one!

CowDung

1:51 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Once more, I have to disagree with you Bren. I'm a 'burgers for breakfast' type of guy...

James R Hoffa

2:01 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

@CowDung -

Go for the gusto with a burger that has an egg on top of the beef patty!

Both Red Robin and Steak and Shake offer such a sandwich, and Hoffa loves 'em!

CowDung

2:08 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Yes! Those are the best...

Bren

2:17 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

But what about the egg bagel (no cheese), Cow?? I would enjoy one right now in fact.

(And a confession: I prefer Chez Ronald coffee over Starbucks! I don't drink really drink the fancy stuff, perhaps the occasional espresso or Americano)