Letter: Apples in Happy Meals insufficient

A McDonald's Cheeseburger Happy Meal with the new apple slices option is shown in Pittsburgh. McDonald's Corp. says it is adding apple slices to every Happy Meal, part of the chain's larger push to paint itself as a healthy place to eat. (July 26, 2011) Credit: AP
While it's refreshing to see a corporation such as McDonald's making some changes based on what customers are asking for ["Study says fast-food calorie labels count," News, July 27], we should be careful in heaping praise on corporations for simply reducing the scope of the problem they continue to create.
The problem they create, to clarify, is the millions of obese children across the nation whose health conditions can be attributed to fast food restaurants such as McDonald's. It's almost comical for the company to claim they look out for "an individual's well-being" while spending $400 million a year on marketing to children.
This change must be seen for what it truly is: a publicity stunt.
Sara Kiridly, Nesconset
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