Uhhhh... Hasn't he been pushing a new series of commercials getting kids to exercise more for a few years now? And I saw a story on the news not long ago, about a town where Ronald turns up once a week at a Mickey D's specifically to exercise with the kids.
On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 12:32 PM, Kelwyn <ravena...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-talk-ronald-mcdonald-retire-0329-20100329,0,5731460.story > > Can Ronald McDonald be forced into early retirement? > > Advocacy group wants McDonald's to let go of spokesman in light of > childhood obesity crisis > > By Julie Wernau, Tribune reporter > > March 29, 2010 > > A coalition of health professionals, parents and corporate accountability > advocates is calling for Ronald McDonald to retire as a spokesman for the > nation's largest restaurant chain, saying he has too much influence on kids. > > Corporate Accountability International, which has waged campaigns against > bottled water companies and tobacco companies, wants to stop the Oak > Brook-based chain from gearing its advertising toward children in light of > what they called a "fast-food-industry childhood obesity crisis." > > The group will release the results at a lunchtime "retirement party" > Wednesday for McDonald's Chief Happiness Officer, a 50-year veteran of the > company, at the McDonald's restaurant at Chicago Avenue and State Street. > > The group — which was also behind the effort to retire Joe Camel from Camel > cigarettes — will invite Chicagoans to sign retirement cards at the > McDonald's. The event is one of nearly two dozen to be held at McDonald's > restaurants and colleges across the country that day, according to group > spokesman Nick Guroff. > > A spokeswoman for McDonald's said the company wasn't invited to the party, > but said Ronald's role as a brand ambassador hasn't changed. It's to bring > out the fun side of having meals with family and to promote an active > lifestyle, she said. > > "He is the heart and soul of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which lends a > helping hand to families in their time of need," McDonald's told the Tribune > in a written statement. > > "Ronald also helps deliver messages to families on many important subjects > such as safety, literacy and the importance of physical activity and making > balanced food choices," the company said. > > — Julie Wernau > > Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune > > >
