Why do people love to sneer at McDonalds so much

[FinnyStory]

And blame them for obesity?

A Big Mac has 508 calories, a lot but not excessive if that's your lunch once in a while. A Costa Brie and Bacon panini has 517 calories, a no more satisfying or nutritionally valid choice surely?

In Prezzo, their hummus starter has over 600 calories! They have mains at over 1000 calories and their menu is similar to many other restaurants more acceptable to MNetters, which is why I looked them up, not because I have anything against Prezzo.

At least in McDonalds you can choose a salad or a lighter wrap if you want it, very many coffee shops and cafes don't even offer those things.

IMO McDonalds have made far more effort on these things than most and yet as soon as people talk about obesity, it won't be long before families who frequent McDonalds are vilified, although a gastropup or more upmarket restaurant chain seems to be considered OK?

[quote haba]@Alwaysinpain I think you've misunderstood- no organic produce is used in McDonald's UK.
The meat is from intensively farmed animals. The chicken is 100% breast meat, all of it, but it ain't from organically farmed sources![/quote]
It’s not from intensively farmed animals. It’s all British Red Tractor scheme.

Personally, the smell of MacDonalds turns my stomach. It's something to do with the oil I think. So there's no way I would see eating there as a treat.

The food is highly processed, which again doesn't appeal to me, although it's fine to have occasionally if you like that type of food.

I don’t mind being a snob about McDonald’s. Growing up it was the treat we got after a trip to the GP. So, I’m already feeling like crap, got a jab in my arse, and now I have to go through the drive through and order a bunch of shite that I can’t even eat until we get home. I hated it 30 years ago and I hate it now. Happy to be a snob.

@FancyARoot Red Tractor scheme still allows intensive farming! Poultry is restricted to 30kg/square metre, that's a lot of chickens!

It’s not from intensively farmed animals. It’s all British Red Tractor scheme.
They use a lot of Irish beef in the UK, which is not covered by the Red Tractor scheme.

Again, it's not perfect, but which restaurants (or indeed supermarkets) are you all using that don't use intensively farmed produce? The beef in a Tesco or Pret sandwich is just the same. The steak in your local steakhouse comes from ....?

The issue with McDonald's is it's so cheap and accessible. It's present almost every where, in some cases a stone's throw from each other.

I think they've improved since the days of Supersize Me, but it doesn't mean they're any less prevalent, and they appeal to people with low income, and high appetites.

They're also really consistent with quality (which is great for the business), because it means you can just go to any McDonald's and expect the same quality of food as your usual spot so it becomes a familiar and safe option if you are away from home, travelling for work or on holiday.

So I do agree, there are certainly places that serve food of equal or greater calorific content, but those places are less prevalent and in some cases more expensive.

By undercutting competitors and branching out McDonald's have undercut competitors.

McDonald's still carries a stigma that they're obfuscating the nutritional information in order to retain customers, now the nutritional information is available, but their customer base is so large that it's become a household name.

The ball most certainly is in the consumers court, and McDonald's isn't anything to be sneered at, but McDonald's certainly take advantage of the fact we as humans have weak will power, and there's a lot of psychological backing behind their marketing.

I think they do have a dubious moral past but they've made huge strides to address that, in terms of their advertising, sustainability, animal standards, quality, supply chain and variety of healthier options and employment conditions. Way ahead of many of the other places MNetters seem to find more acceptable.

I meant by selling cheaper, McDonald's have undercut competitors. Grr

Its not me being snobbish, I just don't like them. The bread is insubstantial, I don't like the taste, It's a lot of calories yet I don't feel I've eaten a proper meal. I hate tomato sauce, gherkins, mayo or anything like that so if I eat one it's very dry and I don't like skinny chips, I like a few chip shop chips.
I'd sooner go to Tesco and get one of their ready to eat pasta meals if I'm stuck for food.

McDonalds have been publishing their nutritional content since 2005, again way ahead of the competition.

@madcatladyforever

Its not me being snobbish, I just don't like them. The bread is insubstantial, I don't like the taste, It's a lot of calories yet I don't feel I've eaten a proper meal. I hate tomato sauce, gherkins, mayo or anything like that so if I eat one it's very dry and I don't like skinny chips, I like a few chip shop chips. I'd sooner go to Tesco and get one of their ready to eat pasta meals if I'm stuck for food.

As I've said many times now, it's not about your personal preference but the way people here seem to feel obliged to put down people who have a different preference.

Oh I see, well I just ignore those types of people. I must admit to not having read the whole thread.

Again, it's not perfect, but which restaurants (or indeed supermarkets) are you all using that don't use intensively farmed produce?

Vegan restaurants?

Tbh I tend not to eat out where I can help it, and not eat meat when I do. Intensively farmed meat is just awful, morally, tastewise, environmentally.

I don't like McDonald's, it's not just related to the food though (although I'm veggie and it isn't great for me). In my experience, the seating area isn't very clean. I'd rather go to pizza express or similar.

God, I love a McDonalds.

They are the epitome of the fast, nutritionally lacking and addictive food culture we now find ourselves in with 63% of adults overweight or obese, and 24,000 people a year dying of T2 diabetes.

Yes, they are at the forefront and do all lovely things like publish the calories.

But the food they sell is addictive, toxic and setting a culture of 'on the go' shit convenience food that others copy because it makes money out of exploiting people's natural inclination to eat high carb/high fat food.

@Emmmie

OP mentioned hummus. Yes, it can be very high in calories, but surely eating 600 calories worth of hummus is so much healthier than having a BigMac at 508 calories.

The question is, which one tastes better. Most likely BigMac, so
I do understand why people would choose it instead of hummus.

Why is the hummus healthier?

I've got no hate for McDs here, my teenage son has a chronic illness and has to have a high fat, high cal, high salt diet, he's been eating Macdonalds since he was toddler (as well as many other foods) however he become quite disordered in his eating a few years ago and was malnourished and very unwell, he had a very limited diet for about 2 years and sometimes he'd eat McDonald's for lunch and dinner for 2-3 weeks at a time, it kept him alive and his mental health from slipping.

Secondly my BIL who is autistic has managed to work there for years now and had become a manger, he can live independently now and earn a decent wage, they treat him well.

Anyone criticising is a snob, plain and simple!

@Cam77

Obviously cos it’s not all about the calories!!!

Eat five Big Macs a day for a year and run 800m. Then eat 2500 healthy calories a day for and run the same race. One you’ll be running the Big Mac you’ll be crawling.

500 calories of healthy food and 500 calories of junk are very different. Healthy food has calories plus loads of good stuff. McDonalds is the same without any good stuff.

This is just absurd. It has no basis for in science. Obviously, only eating big macs a day isn't ideal, as there will be some vitamins and minerals missing from the diet, but I don't think you'd easily find any one food item that would satisfy every need.

A big max is not empty calories/devoid of nutritional value.

I bloody love McDonalds! Best part... 100% British and Irish beef!

I had my first one since February this week and it was amazing! Double cheeseburger, small fries and a small coke. Less than 1000kcal which i thought was fine for a treat on cheat day.

Because it's cheap and the commoners frequent it 😂 I'm one of those commoners.

This ^^

I'd kill for a filet o fish meal right now....or a kfc bucket...i live in the arse end of beyond so very rarely get fast food.

I sneer at it as it hardly passes for food.
You can't call that meat, it's horrible chemicals, that parents conn their kids into believing is some sort of treat.
Disgusting and encouraging kids to grow up thinking it's actually food.