McDonald’s ‘Don’t Eat Fast Food’ Website Shut Down

The McDonald’s employee website that recommended workers avoid eating fast food has been taken down after it generated negative and embarrassing publicity for the hamburger chain.

The website in question, McResource Line, suggested that a fast-food diet could contribute to obesity. In fact, it labeled an image of a burger, fries, and a soda — the kind of meal typically served by McDonald’s — as as an example of an unhealthy choice. A sandwich “loaded with vegetables” (such as might be purchased at a competitor like Subway) and a salad are labeled as a healthier choice.

“Fast foods are quick, reasonably priced, and readily available alternatives to home cooking. While convenient and economical for a busy lifestyle, fast foods are typically high in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt and may put people at risk for becoming overweight,” a post on the website explained.

A separate post apparently suggested that “it is hard to eat a healthy diet when you eat at fast-food restaurants often.” Another tip is that “In general, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease must be very careful about choosing fast food because of its high fat, salt, and sugar levels.”

McDonald’s initially pointed out that the employee website was created by third-party content provider, but that it stood by the advice, adding that the media took some of the online information, nutrition-oriented or otherwise, out of context.

However, the site was taken offline on Christmas Eve. In a statement, McDonald’s explained its decision to pull the plug on McResource Line:

“We have offered the McResource program to help our valued McDonald’s employees with work and life guidance created by independent third party experts. A combination of factors has led us to re-evaluate, and we’ve directed the vendor to take down the website. Between links to irrelevant or outdated information, along with outside groups taking elements out of context, this created unwarranted scrutiny and inappropriate commentary. None of this helps our McDonald’s team members. We’ll continue to provide service to our folks through an internal telephone help line, which is how the majority of employees access the McResource services.”

[thumbnail image credit: NNECAPA]