In a recent twist in food marketing tactics, McDonalds has attempted to put a Farm to Fork spin on their fries. Check the ad here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cXgKCFqACkw.

Though their new ad suggests that their fries go straight from this friendly potato supplier to their restaurants, the truth is, after harvest, the fries travel to a supply company, where they are washed, peeled, cut, blanched, deep fried, and dipped in sugar.  Then they travel to the restaurants, where they will be fried again.  And the fries are far from all-natural potatoes.  Take a look at the ingredient list:

Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

McDonalds’s new advertising spin coincides with the dropping of the egg supplier Sparboe Farms after the FDA found unsanitary conditions at its facilities and an animal rights group documented animal abuse by employees.  According to the Global Post, McDonalds also is researching the benefits of cage-free eggs in the US and already uses them in Europe. 

McDonalds certainly has a long way to go in terms of healthy food and truthful advertising, but it seems that the political climate around food and where it comes from today is influencing them, both in advertising and in making conscious decisions about their suppliers.  The more pressure people put on big companies to make positive changes, the more changes will be made.  Corporations are nothing without their consumers.

By the way, I am currently working on a guide to the more confusing issues of our movement against obesity for activists like you.  If there is anything you find confusing that you’d like to make sure I explain, or any questions you have for any Catalyst staff, please leave me a comment! 

Have a happy New Year everyone!

MKG

Quotation of the Week- I went into a McDonald's yesterday and said, 'I'd like some fries.' The girl at the counter said, 'Would you like some fries with that?'

-Jay Leno

• Mariah Geiger