1. The New York Times
OP-ED
Weigh Your Options
Obesity must be reduced to a societal issue.
By STEVE EASTERBROOK, CEO of McDonald’s Corporation (Kristine Jimenez)
MARCH 17, 2015
While walking down a beautiful tree-lined street in Oak Brook, Illinois I observed a mother
unloading her groceries and young child from a white Honda Civic. Her daughter, an adorable
blonde little girl with a pink sun bonnet, probably no more than 6 years of age, was carrying a
happy meal box in one hand and its accompanying toy in the other. As the child bolted toward
the front door, her mother shouted, “Remember to wash your hands before you start eating and
eat on the placemat!” The young girl shouted back, “I know!” In a flash, both were gone and I
was left replaying this moment over and over in my mind.
What does this story have to do with anything you might wonder? Well the answer to that
question is within my first sentence. The mother brought home a trunk full of groceries yet her
daughter was toting a happy meal box. Obviously, the meal was not meant to be her sole source
of nutrition. Also, the golden-haired child knew that in order to enjoy her treat, she first had to
attend to a sanitary ritual. All which signify that there’s a way to enjoy fast-food without
forgetting the bigger picture. Each family and individual is responsible for designing their own
menu and weighing all of their options. It is our responsibility to serve great food at affordable
prices.

2. McDonald’s is known for providing quick, convenient and inexpensive foods but we would also
like to be known as a place that cares about its customers’, not one that perpetuates unhealthy
eating habits. As contradictory as this might sound to naysayers, it is true. While earning a profit
is important for sustaining a corporation and all of its employees, by no means do we support
sacrificing our customers’ health for this endeavor. Our goal has always been to fulfill a need in
society and that need is as stated previously, “quick, convenient and inexpensive foods” that our
customers can happily consume. Despite our best intentions, there are people who place blame
on fast-food enterprises for the obesity epidemic, using our niche as the primary cause for
obesity. It is my own personal belief that the issue of obesity is deeper and more pervasive than
fast-food, and it involves society as a whole. For this reason, it will take more than the
dissolution or restructuring of fast-food restaurants to resolve this issue.
As time and technology progresses, there is always a chain reaction that affects current and
future generations. Ironically, complacency has been steadily climbing at the rate of
technological advances. Anything which is convenient should be used as an option or an
alternative, not as a crutch that is meant to hinder or hamper. We maintain that we were
established to better serve our community, not spoil it in any sense of the word. Although
McDonald’s is proud to supply an array of food options, it is of our utmost priority to keep our
customers informed of their caloric intake by posting this information next to the selections.
Customers are able to make decisions based on their specific diet. Children, as always, can
choose from our child-size meals.
Studies show that childhood obesity is double the amount it was two decades ago and that fast-
food restaurants, in particular, McDonald’s are partly to blame for this dangerous health issue.

3. This is a matter that our organization takes very seriously and deeply to heart. We have always
worked hard to provide our customers, in particular, our children with great products and
experiences. Our Ronald McDonald House Charities are a testament to the fact that our vision
very much includes the needs of our children. We are making great strides in improving our
products and services in order to serve better our customers. Our chief goals at this time are to
maintain as much transparency as possible and welcome as much feedback and scrutiny
necessary so that we can continue to evolve. McDonald’s Corporation has every intention of
continuously tailoring its services in order to remain a staple in society but it is up to every
individual to figure out their own dietary needs so that they may live their healthiest life possible.
Public Relations Writing Assignment