McDonalds Is Ruining Happy Meals By Removing Cheeseburgers And Chocolate Milk

 
WTHR - McDonald’s will soon banish cheeseburgers and chocolate milk from its Happy Meal menu in an effort to cut down on the calories, sodium, saturated fat and sugar that kids consume at its restaurants.

Diners can still ask specifically for cheeseburgers or chocolate milk with the kid’s meal, but the fast-food company said that not listing them will reduce how often they’re ordered. Since it removed soda from the Happy Meal menu four years ago, orders for it with Happy Meals have fallen 14 percent, the company said.

The Happy Meal has long been a target of health advocates and parents who link it to childhood obesity. McDonald’s has made many tweaks over the years, including cutting the size of its fries and adding fruit. Most recently, it swapped out its apple juice for one that has less sugar.

It’s been especially important as the company tries to shake its junk-food image, since McDonald’s is known for getting more business from families with children relative to its traditional rivals, such as Burger King and Wendy’s. The Happy Meal is a key part of that.

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You know what, I’m sick of this type of thing. Maybe it’s because I’m in a bad mood today, but this story is driving me up the wall. Why not just get rid of Happy Meals all together? Why doesn’t McDonald’s just become a chopped salad with grilled chicken and light vinaigrette on the side restaurant? What’s the point of anything anymore? Happy Meals are there to make kids HAPPY. How about we just teach parents and kids that it’s not bad to eat McDonald’s now and again. We teach them nothing is bad in moderation. That a cheeseburger and a chocolate milk here or there won’t kill you. And I can’t believe that I have to say this, but WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MCDONALD’S. IT’S WHERE YOU GO TO GET DELICIOUS, FAST FOOD THAT YOU KNOW IS BAD FOR YOU!!!

Here’s the thing- you can take cheeseburgers off the Happy Meal menu all you want. But back to my previous point- kids who are raised on McDonald’s are going to be eating McDonald’s their whole lives, regardless of if cheeseburgers are on the Happy Meal menu or not, unless they are taught moderation. They’ll just get nuggets and fries and a soda. But oh good, they won’t be able to get chocolate milk! McDonald’s, stop trying to get these quick PR splashes. Your business model is still to get people addicted to your food, and removing a fucking cheeseburger from the Happy Meal Menu (while still offering it if someone asks) isn’t going to do shit.