Madam, - Further to your Editorial "We are what we eat" (February 3rd), we at McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland are very unhappy at your reference to "bad food" - as your implication was that our food is "bad".
Nutritionists agree that no food should be regarded as healthy or unhealthy; it is a matter of variation, moderation, balance and physical activity. Our products consist of high quality ingredients that can make up part of a healthy, well-balanced, varied diet. McDonald's menu is made up of poultry, fish, bread, vegetables, dairy products and 100 per cent Irish beef - food from the four basic food groups containing many essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
In 1986, McDonald's became the first Irish quick service restaurant to provide consumers with complete information of all our products. This information was independently checked and approved by a dietician from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute and is available in our restaurants and on our website - www.mcdonalds.ie. Recently McDonald's has responded to customers' needs by introducing the "Changing Tastes" menu which currently features a salad and a grilled chicken sandwich. Further additions to this menu are planned.
Last year, a nutritious Danone Gervais yoghurt drink was added to the "Happy Meal" and a "Happy Meal Choice", giving parents the option of milk, water or orange juice as an alternative to a carbonated soft drink, is currently on trial in a number of restaurants.
McDonald's has always advocated the benefits of a balanced diet and all we ask in return is for a balanced and accurate reporting vis-à-vis our food quality. - Yours, etc.,
WILL COOKE, Director of Operations, McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.