McDonald's Own Reality Check

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BENEFICIAL HARMFUL

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McDonald's Own Reality Check

Background Information
This is a McDonald's Tray Liner. June 2015. It's part of the marketing move by the fast food giant to counter criticism of its food sources and processing practices. Background here:http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-mcdonalds-food-2014-5
Technique Used
Simplify Ideas
This is propaganda because
It's part of the marketing move by the fast food giant to counter criticism of its food sources and processing practices. It's design to change customer behavior and make parents and others feel better about eating there.

Comments

  1. user-avatar
    Richardstephens3
    Wed, 11/18/2015 - 02:08
    Richardstephens3
    This example of propaganda is tricky because it, beneficially, addresses the consumer's distrust of McDonald's product and, harmfully, does not address the treatment of animals they harvest their products from. It is one thing to say "yes, you are eating a real chicken" and another to say "you are eating a real chicken that was raised ethically on a farm with good conditions".
  1. user-avatar
    Lisa Moriarty
    Sat, 11/21/2015 - 03:45
    Lisa Moriarty
    I think this is a harmful use of propaganda. It's clear that this information isn't correct, there's no source listed. I think, sure, it activates strong emotions but I think those emotions may be negative ones like anger. I think this piece also has the ability to make people feel like they're taken advantage of, because nobody can truly believe that.
  1. user-avatar
    SMPutnam
    Sun, 11/22/2015 - 03:27
    SMPutnam
    With obesity and heart disease becoming increasingly common health concerns, any attempt to soften the perception that fast food is unhealthy is harmful. At best, this makes the case that McDonald's food "isn't as bad as some people say it is", which really doesn't speak to how bad it actually is to start with.
  1. user-avatar
    Kristin
    Sun, 11/22/2015 - 05:33
    Kristin
    I voted with the majority on this one. McDonald's is clearly attempting to demonstrate that it's food is healthy and good for you when there is way more to it than that. And the fact that its french fries are 100% world famous says zero about food truth. Fresh lettuce? You can't freeze and store lettuce, of course it is fresh. You don't get to take any credit for that. It is all just pretty ridiculous.
  1. user-avatar
    Kathi
    Sun, 11/22/2015 - 06:15
    Kathi
    I agree that this is harmful. While it is targeted at a specific theme, it doesn't address issues such as calories and sodium content of the meals, which are still an issue.
  1. user-avatar
    Ethan
    Mon, 11/23/2015 - 09:34
    Ethan
    Stuff like "we only use USDA-inspected beef." What other type of beef is there? Isn't all food checked by the USDA?
    Also, they mention under the chicken that there's "No added hormones" but they don't mention that under the beef section. To me, that means that they source meat from hormone-enhanced cattle.
    I just don't trust literally anything McDonald's says about their food production.
    The section about the fries doesn't tell anything specific about how the potatoes are grown - like, "our potatoes are selected for their quality, taste and size." Nobody was challenging the fact that your fries aren't tasty (because of all the salt and deep-frying process)! People are probably saying they're not healthy for X and X reason- but none of that was addressed.

    Basically, I think this is total bogus. Though they may be speaking the "truth," look a little closer and they're telling a "selective truth" (like with the beef & hormones I mentioned earlier).

    McDonald's cannot deny that they're food isn't the best for X and X reasons, so they don't address it! Instead, they just highlight what they think they've done right.

    I will give them credit though - I had no idea none of their chicken is without hormones... if that's the truth.
  1. user-avatar
    Nerissa Edwards
    Mon, 04/18/2016 - 05:50
    Nerissa Edwards
    There is no way that anything on this tray liner is true. McDonalds has never been all natural and is not part of a healthy diet.
  1. user-avatar
    maefleur
    Tue, 04/19/2016 - 06:27
    maefleur
    I think this is relatively harmful in that it gives off a sense that someone is eating something healthy, when in reality they are not.
  1. user-avatar
    emilymedia
    Thu, 04/21/2016 - 04:13
    emilymedia
    This is a huge marketing ploy by McDonald's wanting us to believe their food is healthy, natural, and safe to eat. Just because something has 100% of the "natural" food in it, doesn't mean it doesn't have 100% synthetic or UNnatural ingredients in it as well.
  1. user-avatar
    Michael
    Sun, 11/12/2017 - 01:59
    Michael
    This is incredibly hard to believe
  1. user-avatar
    stayathomedogmom
    Sun, 11/12/2017 - 07:29
    stayathomedogmom
    Their marketing move is smart to focus on the positive aspects of their food, however, it is harmful to people who will not do their own research. Their products may be of good quality, but the caloric intake is what makes the fast-food chain so awful.
  1. user-avatar
    Epping
    Thu, 03/29/2018 - 19:28
    Epping
    I agree that mcd wants to make their food seem healthy

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