Talk:McDonald's

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    [edit] Very Biased Article

    Hey vegans and PETA activists, just because you don't like McDonalds, or any thing else mainstream for that matter, doesn't mean that it's evil. McDonald's success is a testament to it's popularity. It employs hundreds of thousands of people and feeds millions. It contributes substantially to local, regional, national and global economies. Any organization has things it can do better, even your local vegan coop, but why do all the negatives about McDonalds have to be listed more prominently then information about the organization and it's products and services? That, in and of itself, is unencyclopedic. I'm sure you would all rise up in self-righteous protest if criticisms of veganism and/or PETA were placed before subjective information about them. Let's be fair. Yes you can have your adolescent rants about how evil capitalism and meat and the dominant paradigm are but put them AFTER the discussion of what McDonalds is and what it serves. --12.181.190.99 (talk) 15:10, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

    What a rant. Let me put it a little more succinctly, in the words of Rita Rudner: "When we moved, we wanted to be politically correct, so we hired vegetarian movers. Then we had to help them, because they were too weak to lift anything." Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 15:13, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Article balance

    There is as much content about the criticisms of McDonald's, defense of criticisms, and lawsuits against the company as there is about the company's history, structure, products, and achievements. Most of the criticisms seem more like recent articles of just-barely-newsworthy froth tacked on the end of the article. Is all this criticism really noteworthy? --75.146.61.185 (talk) 01:01, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

    No. It's a case of "piling on". Feel free to pare it down. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 01:04, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    McDs is a lighting rod, and everyone feels they should add to it. It needs information on the company's support of the US olympic team and it Ronald McDonald children's charities. The company isn't all evil.
    --- Jeremy (talk) 01:44, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    It just happens to be Number One, so it's a bigger target, as you say. One could make the same complaints about White Castle, but what would be the point of that? You could put White Castle out of business, and it would hardly make a dent in the fast food world. No, the critics go after the big fish filet. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 01:58, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    I'm back. (I was 75.146.61.185, posting from work.) What's the usual method, here? My inclination is to include only the landmark legal cases and the criticism that is, itself, worthy of being in an encyclopedia (such as Supersize Me), because the rest of it seems like it should be in WikiNews, not Wikipedia. --CorbettGM (talk) 02:09, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    Use your best judgment. Unless it's from a legimitate and reasonably respected source, it probably doesn't belong. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 02:30, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

    I have pared down the Criticisms section. I felt it unnecessary to recap the entire McLibel trial here when an article existed already; ditto for the debate over Supersize Me. Legal Challenge over Trans Fats shouldn't be listed under Criticisms in the first place. Statements needing citations removed. --CorbettGM (talk) 19:15, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

    For a laugh, and if it isn't already covered, someone could add the proposed legislation in Mississippi, to prohibit restaurants from serving overweight people. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 19:42, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    Why put it on this page particularly? --CorbettGM (talk) 20:02, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    For a laugh. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 20:05, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    "Today, American Association of Mascots and Trademarked Advertising Personalities has disbarred Mayor McCheese for discriminating against customers with darker buns, joining in exile the Hamburgular, disbarred in 2002 for taking too long at the self-checkout grocery counter. In other news, Grimace has a big butt." --CorbettGM (talk) 21:14, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
    There ya go. Now we're talking "encyclopedic". Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 21:24, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Bangladesh?

    There is not a single McDonald's in Bangladesh; hence, this country's name should be taken off the list under 'Global Locations'.

    And if it is removed from the article, Mr. 58.145.184.7, are you going to give us the common courtesy of updating that the reverts have been fixed? Or even delete your section so others don't have to double check? Neal (talk) 21:17, 15 February 2008 (UTC).

    [edit] Sources of McDonald's inventory

    There is only a brief mention of how and where McDonald's sources its inventory in the "Arguments in defense" section. The article would be improved with a section explaining this more fully. Specifically it should state what types of livestock, potatos, dairy products and chemicals are used, and their policies on domestic sourcing. These factors are important because they help in understanding the company's success and its impact on local economies and environments. Also, the article mentions coffee and organic milk use, but it is not clear if this policy only applies to the UK. --The Four Deuces (talk) 19:12, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

    Some years ago, the paper mats they put onto trays had some facts, such as that they consume a significant portion of the Idaho potato crop. That suggests that such info might even be available on their website. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 19:28, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Guatemala

    I removed Guatemala from being a subcategory of the U.S. Believe it or not it's its own country (and was already on the list as such). Papercrab (talk) 19:51, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

    Yeah, but surprisingly Guam is.--- Jeremy (talk) 20:26, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Criticism?

    Why is it that the McDonald's article has a paragraph on criticism and legal issues, while its main competitors, Burger King and Wendy's, have no such sections in their entries. This seems to cast McDonald's in an extraordinarily negative light, when compared to the other two companies, which are both global and employ most of the same industrial strategies, tactics and philosophies. Can anyone venture to answer? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.197.70.15 (talk) 16:08, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

    Really? you must not be looking that hard. I personally have been contributing to the Burger King article for 18 months now and can tell you there is a section about its controversies and legal issues here. McD's is just a natural target as the largest, single branded fast food company on the planet. --- Jeremy (talk) 16:57, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
    Precisely. When you're Number 1, you're the biggest and best target. The anti-fast-food protestors could criticize White Castle and their infamous "sliders", but who would care? Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 17:32, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
    The Burger King criticism section is the biggest I've ever seen on Wikipedia. I don't know how anyone could miss it; it's half the article. --67.172.13.176 (talk) 07:18, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
    That is a little exaggerated, it is only a little over a fifth of the total article. --- Jeremy (talk) 09:16, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
    I didn't say it was the biggest ever on Wikipedia, I said it was the biggest I've ever seen on Wikipedia. --67.172.13.176 (talk) 06:58, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
    The criticism section is small because I reduced it. I found it excessive, uncited, and restated entire lawsuits that had separate pages already dedicated to them. Do the same for Burger King if you feel it necessary. --CorbettGM (talk) 17:53, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
    There are only three law suits, out of many against the company, and those listed are the ones that had the most impact in legal precedence or greatly affected the company. There are only four controversies listed, and they are only the ones that least trivial in nature and actually brought about change. That is not excessive... --- Jeremy (talk) 20:30, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
    Heh. You shoulda seen the section before I changed it in February.  :) --CorbettGM (talk) 15:44, 22 March 2008 (UTC)
    I did, it seems that every time Ronald McDonald farts, some one thinks it needs to be included: Someone got food poisoning at the Walla Walla, Washington store (Located just down the street from the Wishy Washy Washing Machine Company), its in there; Someone stubbed their toe in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin store; someone accidentally took a left turn in Albuquerque, they're all in there; etc., etc. ad nauseum... --- Jeremy (talk) 17:52, 22 March 2008 (UTC)
    PS, that rant was partially inspired by Baseball Bugs. --- Jeremy (talk) 18:00, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] gastronomy

    Edoardo Raspelli is a leading food critic in Italy. He writes a national weekly column about restaurants for La Stampa. As such, he expresses a legitimate, informed view about food and food trends and is qualified to comment on gastronomy and McDonalds. Since, as you point out, this is POV, it should be clearly stated as such and can be contradicted by other professional restaurant reviewers who disagree and find McDonalds to be the height of gastronomy.Bob98133 (talk) 17:52, 17 March 2008 (UTC)


    I agree with him, but it is still POV and should not be included; the way it was presented was definitive POV editing at its "best". --- Jeremy (talk) 18:13, 17 March 2008 (UTC)


    Suriname should be added to the worldwide locations as well. It is currently constructing its second location. I know ot doesnt seem much in the grand scheme of things....but its a fact. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.220.222.140 (talk) 13:33, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Image showing stores

    Could someone explain what this image is meant to show? The article says "Countries with McDonalds stores", okay, but what are the years for? What do they represent? JTBX (talk) 09:46, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

    They are in brackets of years, indicating the increments in which McD's stores were first opened in those regions. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 09:57, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Lack of images

    I find it remarkable that there are so many images of the largely identical restaurants but no images of the iconic food or packaging! I'm sure it wouldn't be hard for someone to remedy this. calr (talk) 01:46, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

    So go to your nearest McD and take some photos! Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 02:08, 19 April 2008 (UTC)
    Thats what I did for Burger King, still need to post them though... --Jeremy ( Blah blah...) 05:19, 19 April 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Pot Plant?

    Why is there a photo of a pot plant in the "Controversies" section? I thought I'd ask before I did anything. Joelster (talk) 22:51, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

    It's not a pot plant, ya silly; it's a potted plant. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 22:58, 29 April 2008 (UTC)
    Yes I knew that; here in Australia we call potted plants pot plants, seeing as they are, after all, in a pot. So anyway the question remains: why is a photo of a pot/ted plant in the "Controversies" section? Has the plant in question caused a controversy? :p Joelster (talk) 00:08, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Not that it knows of. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 00:43, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Shall I just remove it then? It's pointless. Joelster (talk) 01:04, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    It's a free photo, and I think its placement there was just to balance the photos in the article. So please leave it be. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 01:08, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Okay then. All I'm saying is that it just looks out of place. But nevermind - it's fine the way it is. Joelster (talk) 01:32, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Looking at it a little closer, there's no other illustration in that area of the article, so it helps balance it; and it could also serve as a gentle balance to the various criticisms leveled in that section. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 01:38, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Yeah I guess so. It adds a sort of feng shui quality, no? Have a good one :) Joelster (talk) 04:14, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Feng McShui. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 04:21, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Okay now I'm getting McHungry. Actually I read somewhere that McDonalds restaurants in Australia are being redesigned on feng shui principles (softer lighting etc). It was in the Herald Sun a while ago. Meh, I can't be wikibothered to track it down. Joelster (talk)
    Feng McShui for real? Crikey! It could be like when Wendy's used to have a salad bar. Greenery balanced against greasy hamburgers. The American way! Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 05:01, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    Wow. Now THAT'S a paradox! Joelster (talk) 05:03, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    America is nothing if not paradoxical. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 05:22, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
    I erased the photo since its pointless just like what Joelster said. **Annoyomous24** (talk) 18:21, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Environmental Record

    This new section sounds like fluff for McD's. The first reference cited begins with "Fast-food multinational McDonald's may not have the best reputation amongst environmentalists..."[1], so clearly there have been some problems and complaints. Not mentioning these, or not including a bit of history about problems enviros have with McD's, makes this new info take on undue weight in the article. I know McD's has a reputation of being a leader among fast food places on enviro and animal treatment issues, but including their recycling/energy production plans without mentioning the tons of trash they produce in the first place, is a bit one sided.Bob98133 (talk) 19:44, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Logo and brand usage guidelines

    I've stumbled across this PDF file which states a lot of interesting, possibly noteworthy information about McDonald's strict identity guidelines. www.scribd.com/doc/214228/McDonalds-Logo-Usage-Guide I think a lot of this should be noted somewhere in this article, such as the "lightning script" logo. If not in this article, perhaps in the advertising article. Agree? Disagree?—Tkgd2007 (talk) 06:44, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Can't edit

    I can't edit this article as it's locked, but could someone please remove "The Sign of the Burger: McDonald's and the Culture of Power, by Joe L. Kincheloe (2002) Philadelphia: Temple University Press." from the "See also" section, as it doesn't relate to another article, it's just the name of a book —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.167.80.180 (talk) 12:05, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

    Done! Pince Nez (talk) 12:23, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] French fries

    I added this in defense section, since this is good for health, and the company follows others. Oak Brook, Ill-based McDonald's Corp. announced on May 22, 2008 that it's making the menu healthier and will uphold its Dollar Menu, as it swithed to transfat-free cooking oil for french fries in the U.S. and Canada. The company will use transfat-free oil, which is canola-based with corn and soy oils, by year's end for its baked items, pies and cookies. It has nearly 14,000 restaurants in the United States.ibtimes.com, McDonald's Holds down Dollar Meal, Making Menu Healthierwww.gmanews, McDonald's says all US french fries cooked in zero-trans-fat oil

    [edit] Iran?

    According to the image in the Global operations section, at one time there were McDonalds restaurants in Iran. Is this true? It isn't mentioned in the List of countries with McDonalds franchises article. 217.155.20.163 (talk) 13:12, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

    It's possible they had to be closed after the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Iran. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 13:42, 24 May 2008 (UTC)