TORONTO – Did the world’s biggest fast food chain admit that its signature meal is unhealthy? This week, McDonald’s warned its employees that eating burgers and fries may be hurting their waistlines and health, then pulled the controversial advice from its internal employee website.
On its employee resources website, McDonald’s showed staff an “unhealthy choice” of a soft drink, burger and fries – the classic McDonald’s meal – and its healthier option of a glass of water, salad and sandwich. Days later, it removed the advisory from the website and told U.S. media outlets advice was “taken entirely out of context.”
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“Fast foods are quick, reasonably priced and readily available alternatives to home cooking. While convenient and economical for a busy lifestyle, fast foods are typically high in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt and may put people at risk for becoming overweight,” read one of the posts on the employee resources website, according to CNBC.
“In general, avoiding items that are deep fried are your best bet. Healthier choices include sandwiches that can be loaded with vegetables. Limit the extras such as cheese, bacon and mayonnaise. Eat at places that offer a variety of salads, soups and vegetables to maintain your best health,” another post allegedly read.
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After streams of media reports about the contentious advice poured in, McDonald’s responded:
“The site did not advise against eating fast food, rather it provided counsel on using information to make informed choices,” a company spokeswoman told Wall Street Journal.
“Portions of this website continue to be taken entirely out of context. This website provides useful information from respected third-parties about many topics, among them health and wellness,” a statement said.
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McDonald’s also said that it’s added healthy menu options – oatmeal, grilled chicken, egg whites and fruit smoothies.
This isn’t the first time it’s employee resource site has landed McDonald’s in hot water. Last month, it offered advice to workers about how much to tip their nannies, personal fitness trainers and pool cleaners. Keep in mind, most fast food employees make minimum wage.
By the end of the week, the website was pulled down altogether. But the company says that it’ll answer employee concerns via internal telephone help lines in the meantime.
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carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
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