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NEWS > BUSINESS > MCDONALD’S DECIDES TO STOP POISONING CHILDREN, WITH SHREK GLASSES
MCDONALD’S DECIDES TO STOP POISONING CHILDREN, WITH SHREK GLASSES
June 5 2010
Oak Brook, IL – In the last few decades McDonald’s has endured more than its fair share of criticisms. Everything from the obesity epidemic to the demise of the rainforest has been blamed on the fast food giant and while they have no doubt
played a role in many of the issues they have been embroiled in, they are hardly the only participant. What they are, however, is the biggest name. Because of that they have become a natural target both because of the level of influence they wield over those issues but also because they provide critics with an easy and readily identifiable campaign.
Like any biog corporation McDonald’s is no doubt used to such criticisms and concerns and in recent years has taken a more proactive stance to many potential concerns. By introducing salads for example, they helped to forestall the obesity argument, even if those salads are as unhealthy as a Big Mac. That has helped to leaven the issues that confront the company but still issues do arise, as evidenced by the recall of millions of novelty glasses which were confirmed to contain high levels of cadmium. With the glasses likely off the market in very short order, the company will have put down another issue before it got out of control, leaving them to continue serving their millions of customers with slightly less dangerous food.
“The glassware was evaluated by an independent third-party laboratory which is accredited by the CPSC, and determined to be in compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements at the time of manufacture and distribution,” said the company in a statement. “However, in light of the CPSC's evolving assessment of standards for cadmium in consumer products, McDonald's determined in an abundance of caution that a voluntary recall of the 'Shrek Forever After' glasses is appropriate.”
Cadmium is a chemical element that is often used as a substitute for iron, but when ingested in high dose can cause serious health issues such as respiratory damage, headaches, dizziness, renal failure, and a loss of bone density, something most fast food companies have tried to avoid in the past.
“McDonald’s has cultivated this family-friendly demeanour for years and it has really become the basis for their entire business model but something like this could really
put a dent in that image. After all these are Shrek glasses that we are talking about which no doubt have been a very popular item amongst the very children that would be most susceptible to poisoning, due to their small bodies,” said Scrape TV Business analyst Ken Green. “The company is huge and they will overcome this issue just as they have always done in the past but this really does highlight the dangers that eating at fast food places can pose. Cadmium poisoning isn’t common of course but just one bout of renal failure can be enough to ruin a person’s life.”
Thus far no children have been diagnosed with cadmium poisoning, though the latest Shrek movie has been a financial disappointment meaning that a significant number of the glasses may have gone unsold.
“The real challenge will be when ‘Toy Story 3’ comes out in a couple of weeks. That product will already be on its way to the restaurants and we don’t know what the toxicity levels of those products might be. Luckily even if they need to recall those toys the kids will still have all that delicious food. The toys will eventually be forgotten, but a McDonald’s meal lasts forever,” continued Green. “I’m sure this will be a blip for the company but I doubt this will be the last time the company accidentally poisons children.”
Cadmium has properties of bioaccumulation, meaning that the compound stores in the tissues of organisms and is then passed on to other animals when they are themselves eaten. Thus far no children with Shrek glasses have been reported eaten.
William Ashford, Business Correspondent
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