forget their inevitable backhanders.

Source? Fact or fiction?

Market forces dictate that outlets don’t necessarily want to cater for around 0.3% of the population. That’s simple economics

Dont disagree but the point remains that it is easier – ie very simple indeed to find something unhelathy to eat where as finding something healthy will require more effort and may not be fruitful [ see what I did there]

where as finding something healthy will require more effort

I just simply disagree. I don’t think that’s the case at all. In fact I think the big fast food chains are leading the way here. 🙂

But Junkyard’s a level 3 vegan. He won’t eat anything that casts a shadow 😉

One Big Mac does not a fatty make.

If the objection to this opening, or Maccy Ds as whole, is obesity then the protestors would be well advised to change their target. Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrions, these are the real facilitators of obesity, with their cheap processed food, cheap sugary drinks and cheap alcohol.

Obesity used to be an affliction of the well off, the supermarkets have made it accessable to everyone.

But thats not the objection, its NIMBYism plain and simple.

Would you want one opening near you?

That means very little really.

It means as much as accusing them of causing obesity.

Wow, derelict building brought back into use thread, who would have thought… ..3 pages and counting

Would you want one opening near you?

In the same way as you’re apparently never more than 3ft from a rat, in a city, I doubt there are many McDonalds-less places left. Everyone must have one, or 2 or 3 within striking distance, surely? Unless you really do live out in the sticks.

I can’t see the problem at all. Its a shop that sells food. Same as Christ knows how many other businesses. And has been pointed out, its a long, long way short of being the worst!

I live ‘in the sticks’. My nearest one is five miles away. But then my village has two CO-OP locals: one was created to keep Tesco out.

Would you want one opening near you?

Nope. (but define near)

One where I live would be massively inappropriate since its on the edge of a national park. But there is one within a 5 min drive next to a supermarket and some other big box shops.

But if I lived 2 mins from somewhere that is described as this site is they I’d have to accept the enevitability that somehting of this ilk would open up there. I’d probably rather a McDonalds than a dodgy estate pub.

And has been pointed out, its a long, long way short of being the worst!

Yes, but as long as people can blame something/someone else for being fat rather than themselves then that’s the important thing.

Yes, but as long as people can blame something/someone else for being fat rather than themselves then that’s the important thing.

Spot on.

Same goes for the litter “generated”. To the best of my knowledge MacDonalds don’t go round the countryside placing burger wrappers in hedgerows.

Time people grew up and took responsibility for their own actions

Round here lots of people protest when a local pub closes, but they’re never actually in the local pubs which is why they’re closing. Seems like they just like the idea of having a pub down the road and expect them to stay open for the one night a year they pop in (to nurse a half pint for 3 hours)

The sort of people who patronise MaccyD’s don’t give a ****. So why not object to a what will be a generator of litter?

Litter is a problem, granted, but what about all the pollutin casued by people in afluent rural areas driving everywhere, often in big cars?

Not to mention the environmental damage created by installing infrastructure, roads etc to access such areas.

Got to love Nimbyist hypocrisy.

Time people grew up and took responsibility for their own actions

Yeah, I mean I sell a bit of crack every now and then, sometimes I go round schools trying to get kids interested, free samples to get them hooked, that kind of thing – not my fault if they get addicted is it?

I blame the parents. 😉

Spot on.

Same goes for the litter “generated”. To the best of my knowledge MacDonalds don’t go round the countryside placing burger wrappers in hedgerows.

Time people grew up and took responsibility for their own actions

Exactly. Individuals are responsible for their own waistlines, they are responsible for their own litter, they are responsible for walking into a McDonalds and handing over their money in exchange for a burger. They are responsible for eating that burger.

Corporations, no matter how vast or powerful they may be are not personally responsible for the choices we make as individuals.

I like Macdonalds. They do something great. Consistent quality low price fast food in locations all over the world.

The number of times we’ve been away from home as a family and want some lunch/dinner to be ripped off paying £40/£70+ for stuff that takes an age to arrive, is crap Brake Brothers reheats or worse. I’ve no objection to paying for quality, but it’s pot luck with pubs and restaurants in a strange town. Cafes in museums and tourist attractions are the worst. Often you want to eat because you’re hungry, not an occasion. I’m not obese, my children aren’t obese, we cook from scratch at home most days. We don’t go every day, but we do go a couple of times a month. The coffee is good, the salads are passable for the price, and we can fill up and be on our way in half an hour and £20. They give loads of jobs to teenagers, seriously, what’s not to like? On obesity? People make choices. Stick your hand up if you’re sure you should choose for them.

Yeah, I mean I sell a bit of crack every now and then, sometimes I go round schools trying to get kids interested, free samples to get them hooked, that kind of thing – not my fault if they get addicted is it?

Do you force the kids to take the crack though?

For most people a Big Mac is a snack

Is that based on an indepth knowledge of eating habits of those that go into MDs, or a statement picked out of thin air with no substance behind it to support your argument? I’m sure plenty do, but plenty go in for a meal as well.

Or the pollution caused by mountain bikers driving their Audi faux-by-fauxs several hundred miles to a trail centre, bypassing their local area, and plenty of other good cycling spots on the way? Why, they may even get hungry and stop at a drive-thru MaccyD…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/18/breadline-britain-nutritional-recession-austerity

Litter is a problem, granted, but what about all the pollutin casued by people in afluent rural areas driving everywhere, often in big cars?

Not to mention the environmental damage created by installing infrastructure, roads etc to access such areas.

Yes, good point, and what about the New York District Attorney who acted in porn films in the 70s?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/mark-suben-district-attorney-cortland-county-acted-porn_n_2146793.html?utm_hp_ref=weird-news

I don’t see people out on the streets of Farnborough complaining about that, the whiny middle-class hypocrites. 😕

Is that based on an indepth knowledge of eating habits of those that go into MDs, or a statement picked out of thin air with no substance behind it to support your argument? I’m sure plenty do, but plenty go in for a meal as well.

Well I worked there full time for about 6 months when I was 17, so I probably know more than most of the people posting in this thread. They treated their staff like shit btw – making you take your ‘lunch’ break an hour into a 10 hour shift because that’s when they’re quieter – nice.

I like Macdonalds. They do something great. Consistent quality low price fast food in locations all over the world

Indeed. I don’t mind them either. They’re always clean and you know what you’re getting. I take my kids to chomp on a Happy Meal, maybe once every couple of weeks. Can’t see the issue at all. The coffee is good

Interesting article on crap food in today’s Guardian

Britain in nutrition recession as food prices rise and incomes shrink

Though to be honest, I don’t really get this at all. How its ‘cheaper’ to buy pre-packaged, processed crap than make decent meals with fresh ingredients? Does not compute

Corporations, no matter how vast or powerful they may be are not personally responsible for the choices we make as individuals.

This is the kind of cop-out these organisations use whenever they’re pulled up on their advertising/PR practices. If you pump billions of dollars/pounds into persuading people to eat rubbish it’s likely they’ll end up eating rubbish! However it’s their choice isn’t it… …both partners in the interaction have to take some responsibility.

Though to be honest, I don’t really get this at all. How its ‘cheaper’ to buy pre-packaged, processed crap than make decent meals with fresh ingredients? Does not compute

You’re right.

But if you factor in “too lazy to cook”, then it all makes sense 😀

Not a fan of Macdonalds but then I’ve yet to be forced to eat there at gun point, I’m assuming the policy for this future farnborough branch will be largely the same…

TBF big organisations like McDonalds, Burger king, Tesco, Starbucks, etc often buy up “Prime locations” with no intention of developing them but merely to keep it from falling into the hands of their competitors.
Ownership isn’t always an indication of ultimate intent…

Having said that if they currently have no local presence then I would fully expect to be enjoying the waft of Big Mac within six months…

As offensive as some organisations/Brands and their wares may be there is no compulsion to actually buy them, you can opt out of pretty much anything you like, fast food is a relatively easy one.

If you don’t trust your own kids to “Make correct decisions” (as endorsed by Joliver?) on their own diet, then that is a different issue all together, the presence of a local fast food restaurant won’t really change that IME…

both partners in the interaction have to take some responsibility.

Exactly – why are people so keen for only parent’s to take any responsibility, while absolving companies like McDonald’s from any responsibility whatsoever. These companies spend millions and millions of pounds on advertising their food to kids – why is that exactly do you think, because it doesn’t work?

As offensive as some organisations/Brands and their wares may be there is no compulsion to actually buy them, you can opt out of pretty much anything you like, fast food is a relatively easy one.

Again, so the huge amounts they spend on advertising (to children especially) serves no purpose then? Wonder why they do it.

McDonalds don’t want people eating it as an occasional treat, they would have kids eat it for every meal every day if they could.

What about all the people on here who’ve bougt iphones and devices made in 3rd world countires using cheap labour/using materials mined and produced in 3rd world countries using cheaplabour?

Or is that ok because it’s ‘providing jobs’?

You can’t attack one thing yet stay silent about things tyou yourself indulge in. that’s hypocrisy. So; everyone opposing McDs: i suppose you all live in tents made from materials you’ve sourced naturally and sustainably then? and nothing you do or own inviolves the exploitation of resources/people and causes no damage to the environment?

No, thought not.

This is the kind of cop-out these organisations use whenever they’re pulled up on their advertising/PR practices. If you pump billions of dollars/pounds into persuading people to eat rubbish it’s likely they’ll end up eating rubbish! However it’s their choice isn’t it… …both partners in the interaction have to take some responsibility.

No matter how persuasive the campaign of marketing is, you still have a choice.

Again, so the huge amounts they spend on advertising (to children especially) serves no purpose then? Wonder why they do it.

Because they know we are all stupid.

where as finding something healthy will require more effort

I just simply disagree. I don’t think that’s the case at all. In fact I think the big fast food chains are leading the way here.

You are entitlted to your view but that is just prima facie nonesense and not even worthy of debate.

Totally agree with the argument about snobbery being a bigger factor than health. Plenty of other ways of eating far too much go by unscathed, but MacDonalds cops a load of grief because people think it’s for the great unwashed, who simply can’t help themselves. They need protecting from themselves, the poor dears.

Good article by Charlie Brooker about Gourmet Burger Kitchen vs MacDonalds.

It seems the key to nurturing a successful chain of fast-food restaurants in modern Britain is to provide a less reprehensible version of something popular (burgers for GBK; chicken’n’chips for Nando’s), while still enabling your customers to indulge in potentially ruinous gluttony.

You can’t attack one thing yet stay silent about things tyou yourself indulge in. that’s hypocrisy.

Right, so unless you lead an ethically completely perfect lifestyle, there is no point in ever caring about anything?

No matter how persuasive the campaign of marketing is, you still have a choice.

So why is it that we are facing an obesity crisis then? Has peoples’ fundamental nature just changed in the last few decades to become much, much greedier and lazier, for no apparent reason?

Or is there perhaps some correlation with the massive rise in consumption of low-quality industrialised food and the vast amounts of money spent on marketing it? Hmmmm I wonder.

Totally agree with the argument about snobbery being a bigger factor than health. Plenty of other ways of eating far too much go by unscathed

Yet again, the snobbery is coming from where exactly? I’d like to see some evidence for this bit:

, but MacDonalds cops a load of grief because people think it’s for the great unwashed, who simply can’t help themselves. They need protecting from themselves, the poor dears.

Because so far I’ve only heard it from people arguing in favour of McDonalds.

Though to be honest, I don’t really get this at all. How its ‘cheaper’ to buy pre-packaged, processed crap than make decent meals with fresh ingredients? Does not compute.

You’re right.

But if you factor in “too lazy to cook”, then it all makes sense.

To be fair to the article, it says:

consumers increasingly choose products perceived to be cheaper and more “filling”

So that is more to do with poor education on nutritional matters. As for the “too lazy to cook”, I expect that is the case for many, but if we are talking about those who are really struggling, working two jobs, or lots of overtime to survive, then there really may not be much time to cook properly.

And finally, can you really make a proper, nutritious meal from fresh ingredients for 11p/22p/33p?

McDonalds don’t want people eating it as an occasional treat, they would have kids eat it for every meal every day if they could.

And? My local Sainsbury’s sells me a sandwich, a bag of crisps and and apple juice pretty much every day. I’m sure they’d like me to carry on. I’m sure my local pub would be absolutely delighted if I ate there every day. What’s the difference?

Vegetarian & Vegan AND Chicken Flavour??

Junkyard – get the kettle on!!!

Right, so unless you lead an ethically completely perfect lifestyle, there is no point in ever caring about anything?

Not at all. But banging on about McDs citing ethics/health etc, whilst staying silent about the plethora of electronic gadgets you needlessly own, is hypocritical.

McDs, Apple, Samsung, BAE Systems etc all provide jobs, services and products, all of them violate various ethical and moral codes in the pursuit of profit. Why is one company more reprehensible/deserving of contempt than the others?

Blimey. This is turning into sweeping-generalisation-trackworld…

Just to keep this post mildly OT, I do agree with pp & find it funny the way no one can be bothered to get involved until it’s too late, in a similar vain to the post about people moaning their local pub is shutting, while opening a bottle of £5 Merlot from Tesco because it’s so expensive to drink out…

wrt McD’s I eat there now & again. I do not consider a big mac to be a snack, I never litter (ok, the odd banana skin), I am not obese, I don’t wear tracksuits & I am more than well aware that they are calorie rich & not massively nutritious.
But they serve a purpose, are good when you are in a rush, are reasonableyconsistent quality, not trying to be something they are not, are reasonably transparent in terms of what you are getting…..
And I bloody love a double sausage egg mcmuffin meal once in a while.

I’d say places like Costa where people pop in for a ‘mid-shop’ snack are far worse. You can easily knock back way more calories than a Big Mac just having a coffee & muffin, as a mid-morning snack.
I went to Starbucks with my other half last month. We treated ourselves to a ‘special’ coffee & a bit of cake. The coffee was 440 calories & the bit of cake was 500…..! Normally I have a small Americano, but this was on another level. Thing is, there were loads of people consuming the same sort of thing…..
At least with a McD’s most people know it’s bad for them. With Costa & others I suspect people know it’s not healthy food, but doubt they are aware just how bad it is.