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[[File:McDonald's Golden Arches.png|right]]

[[File:McDonald's Golden Arches.png|right]]

'''McDonald's''' is an global fast-food chain specializing in [[hamburger|hamburgers]]. It operates more than 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries on 6 continents.<ref>http://www.supersizeme.com/home.aspx?page=bythelb</ref> Although the first McDonald's was opened in [[California]] in 1940 by the McDonald brothers, the first [[franchise]] under the corporation as it exists today was opened by [[Ray Kroc]] in [[Illinois]] in 1955. The company is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois.

'''McDonald's''' is an global fast-food chain specializing in [[hamburger]]s. It operates more than 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries on 6 continents.<ref>http://www.supersizeme.com/home.aspx?page=bythelb</ref> Although the first McDonald's was opened in [[California]] in 1940 by the McDonald brothers, the first [[franchise]] under the corporation as it exists today was opened by [[Ray Kroc]] in [[Illinois]] in 1955. The company is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois.

McDonald's is the most popular fast-food restaurant, and second to Subway in number of stores.

McDonald's is the most popular fast-food restaurant, and second to Subway in number of stores.

McDonald's has been criticized for knowingly selling unhealthy food, and having a history of advertising burgers and fries to children, who consume their Happy Meals and play in their indoor playgrounds, often with parents having no other choice since cities do not have adequate playgrounds for them.

McDonald's has been criticized for knowingly selling unhealthy food, and having a history of advertising burgers and fries to children, who consume their Happy Meals and play in their indoor playgrounds, often with parents having no other choice since cities do not have adequate playgrounds for them.

However, McDonald's has shown it can improve its menu in recent years. The chain has added fresh salads to its menu, as well as apples, parfaits, milk, and juice to lighten up its meat, potatoes, and soda menu. McDonald's has not marketed burgers and fries directly to children in several years, and has promoted healthy lifestyles. They recently have also cut the amount of French fries in half (the portion size went from 2.4 ounces to 1.1 ounces) in their Happy Meals, replacing them with apple slices without the standard caramel sauce, reducing the caloric count to well below 600.<ref>[http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/837079/the-new-mcdonalds-happy-meal-reduces-fries-keeps-toy]</ref>. However, critics claim the hamburgers and fries are still the biggest product at the restaurants.

However, McDonald's has shown it can improve its menu in recent years. The chain has added fresh salads to its menu, as well as apples, parfaits, milk, and juice to lighten up its meat, potatoes, and soda menu. McDonald's has not marketed burgers and fries directly to children in several years, and has promoted healthy lifestyles. They recently have also cut the amount of French fries in half (the portion size went from 2.4 ounces to 1.1 ounces) in their Happy Meals, replacing them with apple slices without the standard caramel sauce, reducing the caloric count to well below 600.<ref>[http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/837079/the-new-mcdonalds-happy-meal-reduces-fries-keeps-toy]</ref> However, critics claim the hamburgers and fries are still the biggest product at the restaurants.

==History==

==History==

Richard and Maurice McDonald opened McDonald's Bar-B-Que in San Bernardino, California. It was a typical drive-in featuring a vast menu and carhops. In 1948, the McDonald brothers shut down the restaurant for three months for alterations. They remade it into a self-service restaurant featuring only a few menu items: Hamburgers and cheeseburgers, soda, milkshakes, coffee, potato chips, and pie, with the core staple being the 15 cent hamburger.  

Richard and Maurice McDonald opened McDonald's Bar-B-Que in San Bernardino, California. It was a typical drive-in featuring a vast menu and carhops. In 1948, the McDonald brothers shut down the restaurant for three months for alterations. They remade it into a self-service restaurant featuring only a few menu items: Hamburgers and cheeseburgers, soda, milkshakes, coffee, potato chips, and pie, with the core staple being the 15 cent hamburger.  

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

McDonald's has often been accused of knowingly selling unhealthy food<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=yNFN1OpnkBkC&dq=fast+food+nation&pg=PP1&ots=l_kkxv7x65&sig=M0lMjzxa92mnxMp4CXMS3VaYpLk&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fq%3Dfast%2Bfood%2Bnation%26ie%3Dutf-8%26oe%3Dutf-8%26aq%3Dt%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26client%3Dfirefox-a&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title#PPA2,M1 Fast Food Nation]</ref>. McDonald's states that health is not only an issue of food but also of a balanced active lifestyle.  McDonald's sponsors many events that promote active physical behavior, such as The Olympic Games.<ref>[http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/eat.html McDonald's Corporate website]</ref>; this is why many McDonald's restaurants have a jungle gym for the children to play in and be active. McDonald's also sells salads and water, two healthy food items, breakfast foods such as oatmeal,  and several drinks that are artificially flavored to taste like fruit.  The "[[schlockumentary]]" ''[[Super Size Me]]'' aimed at proving that McDonald's had no interest in healthy customers whatsoever.<ref>[http://www.hulu.com/watch/63283/super-size-me Super Size Me]</ref>

McDonald's has often been accused of knowingly selling unhealthy food.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=yNFN1OpnkBkC&dq=fast+food+nation&pg=PP1&ots=l_kkxv7x65&sig=M0lMjzxa92mnxMp4CXMS3VaYpLk&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fq%3Dfast%2Bfood%2Bnation%26ie%3Dutf-8%26oe%3Dutf-8%26aq%3Dt%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26client%3Dfirefox-a&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title#PPA2,M1 Fast Food Nation]</ref> McDonald's states that health is not only an issue of food but also of a balanced active lifestyle.  McDonald's sponsors many events that promote active physical behavior, such as The Olympic Games.;<ref>[http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/eat.html McDonald's Corporate website]</ref> this is why many McDonald's restaurants have a jungle gym for the children to play in and be active. McDonald's also sells salads and water, two healthy food items, breakfast foods such as oatmeal,  and several drinks that are artificially flavored to taste like fruit.  The "[[schlockumentary]]" ''[[Super Size Me]]'' aimed at proving that McDonald's had no interest in healthy customers whatsoever.<ref>[http://www.hulu.com/watch/63283/super-size-me Super Size Me]</ref>

=== McLibel Trial ===

=== McLibel Trial ===

=== Support for [[homosexual]] agenda ===

=== Support for [[homosexual]] agenda ===

In March of 2008, Richard Ellis, McDonald's vice president of communications, joined the board of directors of a pro gay-rights organization, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.<ref>[http://outandaboutnewspaper.com/article.php?id=2470 "National gay chamber adds McDonald’s corporation officer to board." ''Out and About'' March 13, 2008.]</ref> Ellis states:

In March 2008, Richard Ellis, McDonald's vice president of communications, joined the board of directors of a pro gay-rights organization, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.<ref>[http://outandaboutnewspaper.com/article.php?id=2470 "National gay chamber adds McDonald’s corporation officer to board." ''Out and About'' March 13, 2008.]</ref> Ellis states:

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

I'm thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce team and ready to get to work. <ref>[http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=27747 Erin Roach. "McDonald's gives support to homosexual activists' agenda." ''Baptist Press'' April 3, 2008]</ref>

I'm thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce team and ready to get to work.<ref>[http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=27747 Erin Roach. "McDonald's gives support to homosexual activists' agenda." ''Baptist Press'' April 3, 2008]</ref>

</blockquote>

</blockquote>

McDonald's thus joins other large American corporations, such as [[Wal-Mart]]<ref>[http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/08/21/4 "Walmart launches gay-friendly initiative" August 21, 2006]</ref>, in actively backing admitted homosexual organizations and their agendas.

McDonald's thus joins other large American corporations, such as [[Wal-Mart]],<ref>[http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/08/21/4 "Walmart launches gay-friendly initiative" August 21, 2006]</ref> in actively backing admitted homosexual organizations and their agendas.

A boycott by the [[AFA]] ended on October 9th, 2008 when McDonald's chose to take a neutral position on gay issues.  However, in 2010, McDonald's once again demonstrated active support for homosexuality as part of their "Come As You Are" campaign, airing a commercial in France which features a young customer talking on the phone to his lover.  At the end of the commercial, the young man is revealed to be homosexual. <ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06/04/2010-06-04_gay_mcdonalds_ad_airing_in_france_evokes_strong_reactions_around_the_world_over_.html</ref>

A boycott by the [[AFA]] ended on October 9, 2008 when McDonald's chose to take a neutral position on gay issues.  However, in 2010, McDonald's once again demonstrated active support for homosexuality as part of their "Come As You Are" campaign, airing a commercial in France which features a young customer talking on the phone to his lover.  At the end of the commercial, the young man is revealed to be homosexual.<ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06/04/2010-06-04_gay_mcdonalds_ad_airing_in_france_evokes_strong_reactions_around_the_world_over_.html</ref>

===''Super Size Me''===

===''Super Size Me''===

[[category:Companies]]

[[Category:Companies]]

[[Category:Restaurants]]

[[Category:Restaurants]]

[[Category:Fast Foods]]

[[Category:Fast Foods]]