Poll: Most Americans Blame Fast Food for Epidemic

New Studies, Mapping Tools Raise Concerns Over Fast Food Near Schools and Links to Disease

CHICAGO, May 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the eve of McDonald's annual shareholders' meeting, Corporate Accountability International has released a Lake Research Partners poll demonstrating that most Americans believe the fast food industry is responsible for the increase in diet-related diseases and health conditions in the U.S.

Also timed with the meeting, the 30-year-old corporate watchdog organization is launching a national mapping project to give parents and policymakers information on the siting of fast food near schools. The project was spurred by recent findings that the proximity of fast food to schools significantly increases the rates of childhood health conditions, like obesity.

"McDonald's hasn't listened to the science when it comes to our children's health, maybe they'll listen to growing public opinion," said Judy Grant Value [the] Meal campaign director. "In any event, they must act to curb abusive practices like zoning next to schools before the current epidemic escalates even further."

In recent years, health conditions associated with diet have accelerated at an alarming rate. Each year the direct and indirect costs of diet-related disease cost more than $120 billion in the U.S. alone. Such trends, paired with a growing volume of research on the links between fast food, fast food marketing, and the ballooning rates of diet-related disease have all caused the pendulum of public opinion to swing dramatically.

In a 2003 Gallup Poll a third of Americans felt the fast food industry was, "responsible for the health problems faced by obese people." In today's Corporate Accountability poll, 57 percent felt the fast food industry was, "responsible...for the increase in diet-related diseases and health conditions."

The poll also found:

• 78 percent of Americans disagree with that "food served in fast food restaurants meets [their] daily nutritional needs."
• One in four felt fast food was in fact "detrimental" to their "nutrition and health."

"People know, and these numbers bear it out, that when McDonald's throws money at the Olympics and physical fitness programs it's trying to deflect for its role in making our kids sick," said Sister Gwen Farry of the 8th Day Center -- a Value [the] Meal partner. "It's time this corporation Value [the] Meal and stop substituting public relation for genuine reform."

Value [the] Meal's mapping project also revealed some disturbing trends that cast a pall over McDonald's annual meeting:

• Three of Boston high schools are within 1/10 mile of a fast food restaurant, including Codman Academy Charter School.
• Additionally, over 30% of all Boston schools that we mapped are within 1/2 of a mile of fast food establishments. This is still easily within walking distance.

"McDonald's knows zoning near schools means big profits and hooking young people for a lifetime of food high in fat, sugar and salt with minimal nutritional value," said Joe Kelly, an expert on childhood marketing with the organization Dads and Daughters. "Still, McDonald's and its trade association would sooner fault parents for children's eating habits then admit zoning and promotions near schools are all aimed at cutting the parent out. It's time the blame justly be shared."

Value [the] Meal is calling on McDonald's to stop zoning restaurants near schools and marketing fast food to children, including selling and promoting fast food in and near schools. The industry currently spends billions aggressively marketing to children.

At McDonald's annual shareholders' meeting tomorrow in Oak Brook, IL, Value [the] Meal leaders will deliver more than 4000 comments to CEO James Skinner demanding McDonald's stop marketing to kids, interfering in public policy and provide complete and accurate nutritional information about its products.

For full poll results visit www.StopCorporateAbuse.org and for the Value [the] Meal mapping project visit www.mapsforamerica.com/valuethemeal.

SOURCE Corporate Accountability International