Nine-year-old Hannah Robertson in front of the McDonald's headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois.
(JULIE WHITTET / iNFOnews.ca)
May 24, 2013 - 3:42 PM
Happy meals don't win any smiles from this nine-year-old Kelowna girl.
On the contrary, child food activist Hannah Robertson had some hard hitting questions for a McDonald's CEO yesterday.
At their annual shareholder meeting yesterday in Illinois, Roberston told CEO Don Thompson that McDonald's is tricking children.
"I don't think it's fair when big companies trick kids into eating food that isn't good for them by using toys and cartoon characters," she said. "Kids are getting really sick with diseases like diabetes and obesity. That is really sad."
Hefty statements to come from the mind of a nine-year old.
Robertson was taken to the meeting by her nutrition-blogging mom Kia Robertson, who launched the "Today I Ate A Rainbow" campaign in 2009. Hannah said she helps her mom make cooking videos encouraging young kids to eat more colourful fruits and vegetables.
"I make cooking videos with my mom that show kids that cooking can be fun and yummy," Robertson announced before asking Thompson, "don't you want kids to be healthy so they can live a long and happy life?"
McDonald's CEO calmly reassured the girl that McDonald's does not sell junk food.
"We don't sell junk food Hannah, my kids also eat McDonalds," he told her.
"We sell a lot of fruits and veggies at McDonalds, with the apples we introduced into the happy meals," Thompson said. McDonald's now offers side salads, non-fat milk, and is also considering serving other kid-friendly fruits like kiwi and pineapple.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013