Business & Tech

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.

If you walked into ’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.”

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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.

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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.


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