McDonald's Aims to Double Fruit and Vegetable Offerings
McDonald's has issued a new Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Report, in which it outlines several goals for the future, including a desire to double the amount of fruits and vegetables it sells.
Other goals outlined include getting all of its fiber-based packaging from sources certified by an environmental group or verified as recycled fiber, and increasing recycling at its restaurants to 50%. Also, it has plans to develop goals next year to reduce salt or sodium, sugar, and saturated fat or calories from its menu items.
According to the Chicago Tribune, a large number of companies began to be more public with their social responsibility goals around the year 2000. In 2005, Wal-Mart and General Electric both made large public environmental commitments.
In addition to the social responsibility component, this strategy seems to be a way of insulating these corporations from criticism. By making lofty promises for progressive change, they have created a built-in rebuttal against negative critiques.
"The trick is always in setting goals that are ambitious, not guaranteed to be achieved, but within reach," said Aron Cramer, President and CEO of Business for Social Responsibility. "I think McDonald's has done a pretty good job of setting targets that fit that description."
Increasing the fresh produce items offered on the menu would certainly go a long way towards making McDonald's menu more healthy overall. However, what remains to be seen is how much McDonald's core menu will change. Also, with more fresh produce options available, it will be interesting to see what percentage of customers will choose the healthy options.
McDonald's
