Coming soon to a street near you:
McDonald’s Corp. will begin selling skateboards and bikes bearing the fast-food company’s brand in a new effort to get kids to burn off burgers and fries with exercise.
The McKids branded outdoor play equipment will be rolled out internationally later this year and in 2006. A few McKids items are already sold at retailers like Amazon.com Inc. and Target Corp.
. . .
McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant chain, is making an aggressive push to deflect criticism of its food as unhealthy and fattening.
. . .
In recent months, the chain has promoted physical activity with the tag line “It’s what I eat and what I do. I’m lovin’ it” in much of its marketing. Just last week, McDonald’s even said it was making over its famous clown, Ronald McDonald, to make him more athletic.
It’s always touching when a company plays good corporate citizen looking out for the health of our children–tobacco and alcohol companies are particularly noteworthy in this way. And I’m sure the “more athletic” Ronald McDonald will make a difference for impressionable young minds.
If McDonald’s really wanted to combat child obesity, they’d run ads saying, “Kids, don’t eat here.”
I don’t suspect we’ll see those anytime soon.