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McDonald’s is overturning council makes an attempt to forestall new quick meals shops by claiming they’ll encourage more healthy existence, reveals an investigation printed by The BMJ.
Based mostly on Freedom of Info requests, it reveals that the agency has gained planning appeals in opposition to native authorities in a few of the most disadvantaged areas of England, the place round one in 4 kids are overweight by the point they go away main college.
Its ways embrace arguing that prospects can order salad from its drive-through branches, that they may cycle or stroll there, and that its sponsorship of native soccer groups promotes well being and well-being.
McDonald’s, which plans to open 200 new eating places throughout the UK and Eire over the following 4 years, has additionally deployed a specialist GP to argue that weight problems is brought on by “over a hundred” elements aside from quick meals, and that its menu accommodates nutritious and low calorie choices.
A McDonald’s spokesperson says, “Local decision making is a critical part of the planning application process, and we always want to work in partnership with local councils to ensure our plans are right for the community.”
However specialists inform The BMJ the specter of a McDonald’s enchantment has a chilling impact on councils and means they’d be extra inclined to wave by means of a planning utility for a brand new department no matter their public well being considerations.
The investigation discovered the agency has lodged a complete of 14 appeals with the Planning Inspectorate—the central authorities company that oversees appeals in opposition to native authority planning choices—over the previous 5 years and misplaced just one case; two instances are ongoing.
In a single case in Norwich in 2024, the corporate argued that prospects may order salad, espresso and meals of “under 400 calories” from its proposed drive-through department and mentioned “a notable amount of custom will be on foot or cycle” regardless that doing so would contain touring beside a busy ring highway.
The enchantment was upheld by the Planning Inspectorate in Might 2024 and the restaurant is because of open in the midst of 2025. Will probably be Norwich’s tenth McDonald’s.
In Mansfield, McDonald’s sought to downplay the council’s considerations over a department’s proximity to 3 main colleges and its potential well being influence, claiming “children are likely to visit the restaurant with a supervising adult who can support the child to make responsible food choices.”
The enchantment was upheld and the restaurant was opened by the native youth soccer workforce, Ravenshead FC, in December 2023. Their equipment was sponsored by McDonald’s, with the model’s golden arches adorning the shirts.
The investigation additionally recognized instances through which McDonald’s threatened to drive councils to repay a few of its prices for enchantment hearings, by arguing the native authorities had behaved “unreasonably”—though it didn’t in the long run get better these prices.
Dr. Amelia Lake, a professor in public well being diet at Teesside College, tells The BMJ, “Appeals involve an awful lot of human resources as well as work, and local authorities are very anxious about financial consequences. It’s a perfect storm for which a well-organized, financially-fueled machine can go in and present the evidence that might sway an inspector.”
The investigation additionally uncovered 15 instances since January 2020 through which McDonald’s objected to new proposals by native authorities to ban quick meals shops shut to varsities or in areas with excessive weight problems, referred to as exclusion zones.
Specialists level to a deeper downside with McDonald’s and the broader meals business’s “brainwashing” of households by means of promoting and influencing key coverage choices.
In a linked opinion, Alice Wiseman, vice chairman of the Affiliation of Administrators of Public Well being and director of public well being for Gateshead and Newcastle, requires far-reaching insurance policies that scale back the supply, affordability and visibility of dangerous merchandise, with a specific concentrate on defending kids and younger individuals.
“If we can build a comprehensive approach to limiting harmful products and services that doesn’t rely solely on individual behavior change, we will see a notable reduction in the number of people living with preventable illnesses,” she explains. “[But] cross-industry tactics to block legislation that would protect public health can make counter efforts against industry an uphill battle.”
Extra info:
McDonald’s triumphs over councils’ rejections of latest branches – by claiming it promotes ‘more healthy existence’, The BMJ (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.r163
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British Medical Journal
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Quick meals big thwarts UK efforts to cease new branches by claiming it promotes ‘more healthy existence’ (2025, February 5)
retrieved 5 February 2025
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