By George Anderson
McDonald's has been hailed in marketing circles for extending the reach of its brand through merchandising deals that have its name and logo on everything from Barbie dolls to cartoons running 24/7 on cable television.
What has helped make McDonald's a household name has also brought the company criticism fron nutritionists for unleashing what the New York Times refers to as "a blitzkrieg that perverts children's eating habits and sets them on a path to obesity."
Susan Linn, a psychologist at Harvard's Judge Baker Children's Center told the Times, "What really changed over the last decade is the proliferation of electronic media. It used to just be Saturday-morning television. Now it's Nickelodeon, movies, video games, the Internet and even marketing in schools."
Moderator's Comment: Is the criticism of the food industry misplaced on the obesity issue? Are consumers receptive to messages about better-for-kids foods or do they simply want a burger and fries when they walk into a fast food restaurant?
Walter Willett, a professor of nutrition at Harvard told the New York Times, "The problem of obesity is so staggering, so out of control, that we have to do something. The vast majority of what they sell is junk. How often do you see fruits and vegetables marketed?" Karlin Linhardt, the director of youth marketing at McDonald's, responds by saying, "We talk about offering carrot sticks and we have parents come in and say, 'We offer them carrot sticks at home. When we come to McDonald's we want a treat, French fries.'" [George Anderson - Moderator]