mcdonald's

But a new study shows fast food advertising has played a big role in the tripling of childhood obesity, between 1970 and 1999, and a ban on fast food commercials might reverse the trend.

McDonald's seems to be the villain in the never ending battle of good food versus evil food.

There is so much information floating around out there about the famous golden arches, that it's hard to know what is true and what is just hype.

Let's face it, we all know by now that McDonald's' food is for the most part unhealthy and should be avoided, but still they don't deserve to be misrepresented by faulty claims or studies.

One claim came to my attention today from Best of Mother Earth blog that really made question it's scientific validity.

Let me start off by saying this. You'll never catch me within 50 feet of a McDonalds. Seriously, I get queasy just driving by fast food joints, but for those of you hooked on the Ronald. Good news! Arguably the one healthy thing on the menu is back. Tomatoes have returned.

This small advertisement for Happy Meals appears on a report card envelope for students in kindergarten through to 5th grade.

So much for offering to stop advertising junk foods to kids.

McDonald's have created an innovative billboard to advertise their salads.

The words are made entirely from lettuce plants growing on the billboard in Chicago.

If only McDonald's were consistent in their messages; parents are less than impressed with their happy meal advertising.

Researchers Brian Wansink and Pierre Chandon have shown that people routinely underestimate the amount of calories consumed when eating at Subway.

They call it the "Biasing Health Halos of Fast Food Restaurant Health Claims".

It seems we believe the low-calorie hype, and end up adjusting our eating habits because of it.

If you ever wanted proof that advertising influences children... this is it.

Researchers asked children to taste the same foods - some in plain wrappers, and some in McDonald's wrappers.

In about 60 per cent of the tastings, the kids preferred food in the McDonald's wrapper.

McDonald's have long been touting "healthy options". I've always wondered if it was nothing more than elaborate window dressing. The real money is in the burgers, fries, and sodas.

McDonald's have been trialling a super-sized soda called "Hugo". 42 ounces (1.24 liters) and 410 Calories.

But didn't they drop Super-size items years ago?

Sipahh straws are an ingenious invention. Rather than having milk sweetened with sugar, these special straws contain all the flavoring and sweetener within the straw itself. Suck up the milk and it gets flavored on the way up.

Sipahh have gone worldwide - McDonald's Australia and New Zealand have both included Sipahh in their Happy Meals for kids.

So what is Sipahh like?

Active kids say slim "Children who did 15 minutes a day of moderate exercise -- equivalent to a brisk walk -- were 50 percent less likely than inactive children to be obese". This could just as easily mean that kids who are already overweight shy away from moderate exercise.

McRawChicken This unfortunate person had their McChicken served raw. McDonald's response: "yeah...um...I don't know how that happened.".

Stroll Smart A stroller that allows Mom or Dad to be "hands-free" while jogging with a stroller.

Subway have taken aim at McDonald's with their new "Fresh Fit" meals. The combo meals are compared side-by-side against a Big Mac meal. Subway's meal comes out at 265 calories, while the Big Mac meal hits a gluttonous 1230 calories.

But there's more to it than that...

While on a visit to the United Arab Emirates, Prince Charles has suggested that banning McDonald's might help public health.

Charles was visiting a diabetes research center as part of a public health campaign.

If he said that in the US, McDonald's would have him for dessert.

(from Yahoo/AP)

McDonald's (USA) serves 27 million people every day, 1 million more every year since 2003.

Since 2002 McDonald's (USA) have experienced 45 consecutive months of sales increases. In a recent Business Week column, McDonald's CEO James Skinner claims "We've learned. We've evolved. We believe we've cracked the code in the United States."

Diet books endorse processed foods. State health authorities endorse fast food. Welcome to the confusing and incoherent world of "healthy food".

McDonald's Australia have "persuaded" the National Heart Foundation to place the healthy tick on 9 of its meals.

"You can feel it. Thicker. You can taste it. Juicier."

That's how a McDonald's ad reads in China. In an attempt to make the Chinese eat more beef burgers, McDonald's are pushing their food as a virility enhancer - among other things.

McDonald's New Zealand are embarking on a new 'feel-good' campaign. During two lunchtimes a McDonald's outlet will set up cameras in its kitchen and broadcast the video to onlookers outside. "We have nothing to hide and we're happy to invite people to have a look at our practices..." said the Managing Director.

The International Networks Archive has a wonderful collection of informational maps (called infographics). One such map details the phenomenal growth of Starbucks and McDonald's (via Fast Food News)

McDonald's are slowly adding gyms to their restaurants. The second "R Gym" opened in California, replacing the kids play area.

Ronald McDonald is a creepy character. If he ever had a child - this is what it would look like.