Almost one-third of America’s children are obese. One-third. This shocking statistic is cited in President Obama’s proclamation naming September as National Childhood Obesity Month.
So, one out of every three children in the U.S. are at risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma and other obesity-associated illnesses. Bottom line: they will live shorter and sicklier lives than those of their parents.
Who is to blame? Director of FRESH the Movie, ana Sofia joanes, along with a team of FRESH activists are pointing their fingers at one man. And his name is…
Ronald McDonald.
In an e-mail message to FRESH fans, here’s what they said about the McDonald’s mascot who’s been hawking hamburgers to children since 1963:
"It's time to retire the clown...
"Millions of kids acro
ss the globe consume the products that Ronald McDonald markets. No marketing icon has done more to hook kids on unhealthy food, influencing brand loyalties and eating habits that can last a lifetime.
"FRESH is partnering with Corporate Accountability International, the organization who successfully sent Joe Camel “packing,” to call an end to Ronald McDonald's career. Can you sign our retirement card for Ronald McDonald? We'll send your signatures straight to McDonald's headquarters...
"Let's seize this moment to remove the world's most well-known salesman of junk food.
"Even when parents try their best to instill a love of fresh, healthy food in their children, Ronald is around the corner, on the Internet, in schools, children's libraries and hospitals, enticing kids to desire the worst of what the industrial food system has to offer. It's time to stand up for Mom and Dad by giving this clown a rest! Ronald deserves a break... and so do we! Tell McDonald's to Retire Ronald by signing his retirement card.
"We are up against a powerful force; the budgets of even the most well-funded health education initiatives pale in comparison to the hundreds of millions of dollars McDonald's spends annually on kids' marketing. The fast food industry will undoubtedly keep working to lure our children unless tens of thousands of people demand that they stop. Retiring Ronald McDonald is an important first step in moving the fast food industry to stop its predatory marketing to kids. Together, we can create a world where FRESH food, not fast food, flourishes."
I love FRESH the movie and I love the work that the people associated with it continue to do to change our dysfunctional food system into one that is more humane, more community-centric, and more beneficial to the health of our bodies and our environment. But I wonder if this campaign is the most effective use of their time. What do you think? Will getting Ronald McDonald to retire really help kids eat better? I'm the mother of two nine-year-olds who have yet to step foot into a McDonald's; Ronald McDonald has no influence on them. So, how much does McDonald's affect the meal choices of other families with kids? How much responsibility should McDonald's, rather than parents, accept for what kids eat? Should the government get more involved -- or less? What role should schools play in getting kids to eat food that's good for them?
And, finally, what are some things you can do, whether you have kids of your own or not, to help change our nation's eating habits for the better?
We at Simple, Good and Tasty are asking you to weigh in with your opinions and ideas. Add your comment to the discussion (below) and you may spark a whole new way of thinking about this important issue.
Most of all, thanks for taking part and getting involved. The food system won't change without you.
Shari Danielson is editorial director at Simple, Good and Tasty.
You can write to her at shari@simplegoodandtasty.com.
