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MNHQ

Talking about fast food - should we do online chat with MacDonalds' new chap?

131 replies

carriemumsnet · 14/04/2008 20:26

As most of you know Mac D's are on our banned advertiser's list, so we don't currently take any banners/ ads/ competition /sponsorship from them.

They've recently approached us to see if we would do a live online chat with their new head of food development, Mike Faers, who has apparently worked previously at Le Gavroche restaurant in London and also M&S and Sainsburys.

We're sure Mumsnetters could think of quite a few things they'd like to ask McDonald's, and we think it would be quite interesting to hear what they have to say, not just in terms of happy meals/menus but in terms of the whole MacDonald's brand/global strategy etc., but wanted to check with you all before confirming it, that you'd be happy for this to go ahead.

As always it would be live, with the chance to ask questions in advance, and no holds barred. We've warned him that you're a feisty bunch but he's still keen.

So what say you - shall we give Mike a go?

OP posts:
Monkeytrousers · 15/04/2008 07:02

A TVR?

He's marketing himself then?

Blurgh

Monkeytrousers · 15/04/2008 07:04

But I'm veggie. We were once offered some start up money from a McD and we refused as it was tantomount to setting your stall up in an abattoir

zippitippitoes · 15/04/2008 07:41

i shall watch with interest my dd1 did a projecdt when she was 9 on the mclibel case

somewhat encouraged by her mum

she has vivid memories of the whole bizarre episode at school...she got a lot of stick for it

all my kids also revel in telling how they were never allowed to go to birthday poarties at mcds

of course dd2 left to her own devices moved in there as a teenager

belgo · 15/04/2008 07:57

I think it would be an interesting online chat.

BBBee · 15/04/2008 08:07

can we ask him on all cosy and then every question can be "why don't you just fuck off?"

otherwise agree with carmere - we will be put through a PR machine. We will not change his mind.

we can;t he just fuck off.

zippitippitoes · 15/04/2008 08:09

of course i just want to see exactly in which of the myriad ways the whole thing kicks off in spectacular fashion [hopeful emoticon]

arfishy · 15/04/2008 09:05

Their PR machine is HUGE and very slick. I am happily going through it preparing to pick holes.

They are very good at repeating '100% all beef patties with no additives'. They are not so good at expanding on the contents of the chicken nuggets and only have very defensive replies to any comments relating to Fast Food Nation.

I still think it's better we have him here than on one of the other sites. There will be a better chance of a well-informed discussion.

I think Mike Faers also has a proven track record with managing healthy, ethical mass production of food, so I would be interested to see his views on improving McDonalds in the nutritional and ethical/environmental sense.

tigermoth · 15/04/2008 09:10

What happens if mumsnet parents are depicted as a bunch of middle class food snobs and lentil weaving cranks, so their views really don't count for much?

Although I don't take part in many food threads, from vague recollection, I believe that at times the comments on them can be IMO very OTT about what can or can't pass a toddler's lips.

If that sort of thing got quoted in the press as indicative of the mumsnet stance on food, that could undermine any criticism we make about Mcdonalds.

I do hope, therefore, that Mike doesn't face a full on attack here on the food itself, at least - green issues, politics are another matter. (Playing devil's advocate, what's the difference between a gourmet deli that specialises in imported flown-in food and Mcdonalds importing their food? Isn't it a difference in scale alone?)

I agree that the apple pies are awful, undereated. But I still feel the raw fruit bags are a very good idea. I would like to feel happy about the salads, but I hear that the fat content in the dressings makes them as unhealthy as the burgers, still at least you can choose not to put the dressings on.

MinkyBorage · 15/04/2008 12:04

what do you think then Carrie, are you going to do it??

Divastrop · 15/04/2008 12:10

will the chat be about ethics and environmental issues as well though if he is a foody person?i would quite like to know why one of the monopoly prizes is 35%off a subscrption to loaded magazine and i often wonder how much money actually goes to their(very worthwhile in theory)childrens charity.

hecate · 15/04/2008 12:16

Yes please! I want to know when they are going to provide a bit of gluten free stuff and why there's more fat in their chicken salad than their burgers! Why the 'salad' on their burgers appears to be 3 weeks old - BK manage to serve fresh crunchy stuff, why is theirs slimy?

And on a personal note, I want to know why their staff ALWAYS leave something off my order so I have to go round again.

I think there's a place for McDonalds, all things in moderation and all that, (my kids loved going but can't now because they've had to go GF) but they really need to move with the times. They can make their stuff a bit healthier!

LazyLinePainterJane · 15/04/2008 12:19

I'm not sure what the point it? Whenever we get anyone on who people actually want to ask difficult questions of, they simply skirt around the issues, spouting platitudes and pre-prepared snippets.

What will we get out of it? No questions answered honestly, probably.

What will they get out of it? Well, they obviously think it's worth doing......

LazyLinePainterJane · 15/04/2008 12:20

is...not it..

lulumama · 15/04/2008 12:21

La Gavroche to Macdonalds

says everything about food in this country !

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 15/04/2008 13:19

Am I the only person in the world who would not read "MacDonalds has live chat with Mumsnetters" to be "Mumsnetters endorce MacDonalds - their food is lovely, eat it every day, a group of mothers think the food is healthy"?

Surely Joe Public has a small ounce of common sense?

AlisonD1 · 15/04/2008 13:22

I don't normally post about these sort of things but I have real concerns about his request. What exactly does McDonalds/this bloke in particular want to get out of the chat? This request won't have been made on a whim. I think Carnmere has made some really relevant points. I also know that MN can't please all its 'members' all of the time but......
The point about better on here than some of the other parenting websites is valid but personally, I cannot ever see McDonalds being somewhere that will market and sell truly healthy food that we would choose to feed our kids so perhaps they are better off on another website rather than running the risk of potentially causing problems for MN. Not mentioning names but there has been at least one 'brand' that has taken particular offence at some postings and if McDonalds is as litigious as some people say......
My vote would be no but that is just my opinion.

AlisonD1 · 15/04/2008 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

arfishy · 15/04/2008 13:34

Out of the zillions they've earn, they gave around £3million to charidee in the UK last year. This is pathetic.

I had a chat with myself about WHY I don't want DD to go to McDonalds, because we've never been since she was born I'd sort of forgotten - it's just second nature to recoil in horror.

I think firstly, that McDonalds should not be seen as a treat. Why is giving children salt and additive laden processed food a treat? Why do I want my DD to think that if she is good she'll get this? It's the wrong lesson.

So, to compound this, they lure children in with trendy plastic (certainly in the past made by sweat shops, maybe still today) toys and play centre thingies.

Secondly they have a history of neglecting animal welfare.

Thirdly they use their monopoly to get farmers to do what they want at the price they want.

Really, the list goes on, with their chips flavoured with beef and chicken nuggets full of shite and their 'blah blah' about charity when in reality a truly miniscule part of their profits is given to good causes.

Global monopolies are not good things and McDonalds could be doing a lot more for charity, nutrition, employee welfare, their suppliers, the environment, intensive farming etc etc etc.

Their PR machine is slick and clever. They have PR answers for everything. I'm going to count up how many times we hear '100% all beef with no additives, fillers or preservatives in our patties' when somebody asks about what goes into their food. Lots of 'it's all sourced locally' - but how much less are they paying the farmers for the privilege? Humane rearing - the chickens aren't free range though are they?

I am SO looking forward to this. I agree that they will attempt to use it as a PR exercise. I would like to see a good debate reported independently in the media. 20 years ago recyclers were roundly mocked and now it's mainstream. I don't think being aware of global responsibility on all these issues is particularly forward thinking or lentil weavery.

And the reason why I'm not hounding Microsoft or Intel or Bosch or any of these other companies, is because they're not in my DD's face promoting unhealthy eating with TV ads and happy meals and playgrounds.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 15/04/2008 13:39

I thought the adverts on day time television had been banned now by the likes of MacDonalds?

arfishy · 15/04/2008 13:49

Not in Australia and other countries.

Tutter · 15/04/2008 13:51

yes

bring him on

i used to work for a company that supplied mcd's (not with food i should add) and always found them a great company to work with

employees generally speaking upbeat about the company and really focused on the customer

this was uk mcd's btw

foxythesnowfox · 15/04/2008 14:11

Who's to say their PR won't put a spin on it?

"McDs were welcomed onto MN to discuss the importance of healthy food in childrens diets. That's why McDs chicken nuggets are only made up of 80% crap instead of the 100%. That's a reduction of 20%. Aren't we great?" or some such rubbish.

OK, so I'm not going to watch this chat and go "Oh, OK, c'mon kids lets go to McDs. I've been proved wrong". But what does happen is they infiltrate everywhere making it more acceptable in the long run. It is a slow process.

Why I'm considered weird because I don't take my kids to McDs (by people I know in RL BTW), and told that they will become junk food addicts because of it, is beyond me.

Please don't do it. It will be pointless. They will pick and choose their questions. No one is going to get to get any satisfaction from it. They won't stand up and be counted. They have PR.

Get a few of the really important questions which we really want answered and post them. Say 5 particularly tricky ones. Then leave them to it. I'd like to see what they do then.

Tutter · 15/04/2008 14:12

yes that's right, let's not have a debate

let's be undemocratic and make up our minds without letting him speak

Tutter · 15/04/2008 14:13

not even max clifford could cope with the wrath of the mn vipers

i doubt mcd's pr team are mn-proof

anyway, if mnhq say that it's him that's coming, it's him that's coming

PuffCoddy · 15/04/2008 14:14

oih gosh carrie your EYSE look good