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McDonald's health role panned
Source: TVNZ
Fast food giant McDonalds is under fire in Australia after one of the company's senior executives was involved in the opening of National Diabetes week.
McDonalds local chief Guy Russo, spoke at the launch of National Diabetes Week and is on the Diabetes Australia board.
Cynics believe it was a publicity stunt aimed at cleaning up McDonald's image.
Dr Bill Glasson of Australia's medical association was less than pleased with the appearance.
"I was discussing this issue with a colleague of mine, who suggested that this was like putting Dracula in charge of a new blood bank," Glasson said.
Russo sees no conflict.
"Australians eat sixty million meals a day and we at McDonalds serve less than two per cent of those meals," Russo said.
Almost two million Australians will have Type-2 diabetes by 2010 if the present trend continues.
Nationwide, 1.2 million people have confirmed type two, or late onset,
diabetes. A further two million have pre-diabetes, a condition in which
blood sugar levels are higher than normal.
McDonald's nutritional value has long been in the headlines, with documentary "Supersize Me" most recently bringing it into question. The bad publicity has prompted a PR offensive and the Australian Medical Association suggests Russo's appearance at the opening of Diabetes week is part of the fight back.
"The concern here is obviously that by linking yourself with a good cause of Diabetes Australia you somehow clear your image," said Glasson.
The Australia opposition party has also waded into the row warning that a link between Diabetes Australia and McDonald's could be seen as an endorsement for the fast food chain.
Australian Labor Party health spokeswoman Julia Gillard said she welcomed efforts by McDonald's to improve its menu, but questions the company's role in Diabetes Australia.
"I think when it comes to diabetes education - and of course the coming epidemic of Type-2 diabetes - there is a worry that there is a cross-endorsement with McDonald's.
"I am worried that it can be seen as an endorsement for McDonald's, generally."
Labor plans to ban junk food advertising during children's television in a bid to help curb the childhood obesity epidemic.
But Diabetes Australia is comfortable with the link up and says having McDonalds on board is a positive step in trying to improve the fast food empires menu.
Published on this website on Thu, 04 Nov 2010