McDonald’s backing blasted by UK doctors

AN EMINENT group of British doctors has criticised McDonald’s sponsorship of the Games citing the fast food company’s contribution to obesity.

Paediatrician Professor Terence Stephenson, the chairperson of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Obesity Steering Group, which represents 21 royal colleges and faculties, said allowing companies such as Coca-Cola and McDonald’s to sponsor the Games sent the wrong message.

“It’s very sad that an event that celebrates the very best of athletic achievements should be sponsored by companies contributing to the obesity problem and unhealthy habits,” he said.

The academy recently said the rising level of child and adult obesity was the “single greatest public health threat in the UK”.

London Olympic organisers defended their decision to accept sponsorship from companies like McDonald’s saying they “provide a huge amount of the funding required to stage the Games”.

“Without our partners such as McDonald’s, the Games simply wouldn’t happen,” the organising committee said.

McDonald’s will soon open its largest franchise in the world, a two-storey cathedral-like restaurant that seats 1500 customers at London’s Olympic Park.

Professor Stephenson’s comments were slammed by Ian Twinn, public affairs director for the Incorporated Society of Business Advertisers, who said the doctors’ group should not be campaigning against business to tackle obesity.

“Using the Olympics to leverage greater support for the campaign is simply opportunistic, ambush PR,” he said  

 – with Associated Press.