Corporate Accountability International
A group called Corporate Accountability International has placed efforts on eliminating the clown from the McDonald’s town. Strong views upheld by leaders of this organization blame marketing, as announced by the Wall Street Journal,
“Marketing can no longer be ignored as a significant part of this massive problem,” the group said in ads placed in major newspapers last week, advocating Ronald’s retirement after nearly 50 years.
The Wall Street Journal continues, and says although Ronald McDonald’s association with a fast food chain gets criticism, the clown plays many roles besides advertising food,
Ronald is indeed an ambassador who has brought a taste of America to the world. He has sponsored the Olympics, supporting fitness and health. He visits sick children in hospitals, and he has about 300 houses where parents can stay free while their kids undergo chronic care.
Ronald Does More Than Food
From a macro view, Ronald doesn’t just wear one hat. And the hat he wears for food doesn’t advocate for him to force feed children unhealthy foods. McDonald’s, in recent years, achieved a more balanced menu with healthier items such as their grilled chicken salads, snack size fruit and walnut salad and oatmeal. The time consumptive efforts it takes to blame a character who’s been around since 1963 could be better spent educating the parents and communities on making healthier lifestyle choices for themselves and their children.
Using Ronald McDonald as a scapegoat for overweight children is like saying cartoons are the reason children don’t focus in school and get good grades. If the child doesn’t study, he doesn’t get good marks. The very rare instances where a child is addicted to TV may alter schoolwork, just as if a child were addicted to fast food they may become obese.
CEO’s Response
McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner had a word to say about Ron,
Ronald McDonald is an ambassador for McDonald’s. And he’s an ambassador for good. He is the face of Ronald McDonald House. He does not advertise unhealthy food to children. McDonald’s does not advertise unhealthy food choices to children. We provide many choices that fit within the balanced active lifestyle. It is up them to choose. And it is up to their parents to choose. And it is their responsibility to do so.
Ronald McDonald is going nowhere.
Will good old Ronald be eighty-sixed from McDonald’s? Sorry, Corporate Accountability International. Doesn’t seem your chances are too good right now.
