McDonald's super-size Olympics plan upsets health groups
London pledged to create the healthiest Olympics ever, but McDonald's said it plans to build its biggest restaurant in the world for the Games.
By ReutersThu, Jul 21 2011 at 11:13 AM EST
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HEALTHY EATING: The government had pledged to use the Olympics to get 2 million Britons to adopt an active lifestyle to try to battle obesity. But McDonald’s plans to build a restaurant in Olympic Park that will seat more than 1,500 people, while a total of 1.75 million burger and chips meals expected to be served during the 29 days of competition. (Photo: ZUMA Press)
LONDON - London was failing in its pledge to create the healthiest Olympics ever, health groups said, after McDonald's fast-food chain said it was to build its biggest and busiest restaurant in the world to serve the Games next summer.
The largest of its planned four temporary restaurants in the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, will seat more than 1,500 people, while a total of 1.75 million burger and chips meals expected to be served during the 29 days of competition.
The previous Labour government had pledged to use the Olympics to get 2 million more Britons to adopt an active lifestyle to try to battle obesity.
"Given many countries in the developed world, and some in the developing world, are facing a major problem with obesity, it is unfortunate that McDonalds are major sponsors at the 2012 London Olympics," the doctors' professional organization, the British Medical Association, said in a statement on Thursday.
"The BMA does not believe individuals should stop buying McDonalds but we need to get the message across that these products should be seen as very rare treats."
Grahame Morris, who sits on parliament's health committee, said in a statement: "Given the huge public health issues of childhood obesity, it is legitimate to question whether having the world's biggest McDonald's at the Olympic Park is sending an appropriate message to our young people."
McDonald's is a long-standing official Olympic sponsor with an exclusive deal that ensures it is the only branded restaurant in the park.
Two of the Olympic restaurants will be open to the public, and the other two will be in the athletes' village and media center.
When asked about the health criticisms, a spokeswoman said in a statement: "There is no doubt that McDonald's food can fit into a balanced, active lifestyle and we offer a range of choices on our menu, as well as nutritional information on our trayliners, website and on packaging, to help our customers make an informed choice."
Separately, Jill McDonald, chief executive of McDonald's UK, said it was "hugely exciting" to be involved in the greatest sporting event in the world, and that the restaurants would help meet the London organizing committee's green objectives, with all four restaurants being re-used after the Games.
McDonald's is not the only sponsor to have come in for criticism.
Coca-Cola, another long-standing official sponsor, and confectioner Cadbury, signed up by LOCOG as a domestic sponsor, also go against the ambitions of the Games, health and welfare charity Sustain said.
"The ambition in the bid was to promote healthy living, and the sponsorship will promote fizzy drinks, chocolate and burgers, so it's clear there is a mismatch between sponsorship arrangements and the ambition to make this the greenest and healthiest games yet," a Sustain spokeswoman said.
A spokeswoman for LOCOG said in a statement that a "diverse and full ... range of other local food offerings" would be provided.
"We will cater for the wide range of people attending the Games, from athletes to spectators," she added.
(Reporting by Avril Ormsby; editing by Keith Weir)
Copyright 2011 Reuters Life! Online Report
Comments
The_Mick
Today 18:46 PM
The obesity problem is much more related to a lack of exercise than McDonalds. There should be greater complaints that the Olympics are no longer for real amateur athletes than the fact the McDonalds will be there.
Maxx
07/23/2011 20:15 PM
This Has Got To Be The Most Pathetic Era Since They Opened Up Theyre Diabetic Stations...
growingmind3
07/22/2011 13:54 PM
And we all wonder why there is an obesity issue....All the money for the Olympics come from the people that breed UNFIT!
