Nannying or a good plan? Municipality intervenes at fast-food restaurants
Almost half of all adult Dutch people are overweight, with 14% of them severely so. More than 16% of children under 18 are overweight. Of course, this is not solely due to the rise of fast-food chains, but since the 1990s, the percentages of ‘overweight people’ have steadily increased, and fast-food restaurants contribute to that: for many people, making healthy choices when it comes to food is difficult. The municipality of Rotterdam has therefore come up with a remarkable initiative.
Five fast-food restaurants in Rotterdam are temporarily offering healthier and more sustainable options on their menus. While McDonald’s went vegan once before, this time it is not voluntarily, but at the request of the city authorities. Not everyone agrees with that. “This is nannying!”
An apple with your burger?!
A pilot project was launched on the Korte Lijnbaan in Rotterdam at the end of last year. Five restaurants, including Taco Bell and McDonald’s, were asked to work with consultancy Greendish to see how they could add healthier products to their menus. ‘Salad and water are of course healthier than fries and cola,’ says Lieke Sauer of Greendish. That is why Halal Fried Chicken now offers an apple with its veggie burger menu, while McDonald’s serves a salad with its veggie McChicken menu.
I eat vegetables and fruit at home
The pilot project in Rotterdam is part of the health campaign ‘Het Nieuwe Nassen’. Its aim is to offer a more varied and better food environment as a city. The dishes are not only healthier, but also more sustainable. As Sauer puts it: ‘The production of a grilled chicken salad from Wawburger releases much less CO2 than the best-selling dishes on the menu.’ Still, many visitors disagree with this interference: ‘I eat vegetables and fruit at home. Not in a fast-food restaurant,’ says one local resident, while another adds: ‘I would rather spread responsibly sourced sandwich toppings from the supermarket myself. That is not only healthier, but also cheaper.’
We should be allowed to eat junk
What do you think of this government interference? A case of nannying and ‘mind your own business’ or a positive development? If I go and grab a Maccie, I know I am not meeting the guidelines of the Wheel of Five. Sometimes you simply want to eat some tasty ‘junk’—that’s allowed, right?! What do you think: is Rotterdam’s city government going too far?
Also read:
- Brilliant: this McDonald’s bag is also a table at the same time
- No more McDonald’s fries for the French, but… vegetable fries
- Surprise: Ramadan is very healthy
Source: AD.nl
