McDonald - The Arthur Page Society

One can also note a breach of being truthful in McDonald’s claim that they have
had nutritional information available for years. As Super Size Me demonstrated, a
customer wanting nutritional information often had a very hard time getting that
information in a McDonald’s restaurant. Yes, McDonald’s did have truthful nutrition
information on charts, posters and sometimes tray liners, but those materials were not
consistently available to customers. At best one could say that McDonald’s was reluctant
to freely distribute nutritional information to customers; at worst that they were trying to
hide it. In summary, this point in the McDonald’s case shows students that it is not
enough to simply produce truthful information—that information must also be accessible
to consumers.
Furthermore, McDonald’s avoids openly stating that many of its products are high
in calories, fat, and/or sugar. By telling the truth (and emphasizing that such products
should be eaten in moderation, which McDonald’s does do on its web site), McDonald’s
would gain credibility and enhance its corporate reputation with external publics. Lastly,
by not engaging in the issue with critics, McDonald’s may look like it has something to
hide.
5.2 Prove it with action
McDonald’s has reiterated many times that it is a company that is concerned with
the health and well-being of consumers. While many marketing actions promoting active
lifestyles and menu choices have been initiated, McDonald’s has not taken action on the
very products that have been determined to be unhealthy. McDonald’s has the option to
take immediate action to reformulate its trans fats cooking oil and introduce lower fat,
salt, and/or calorie counts on its core products to prove its commitment to the health of its
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