The company dismissed claims that it uses human meat on Twitter, telling a user '@seph725 that's gross and totally false.'
On
its website, the company denies that it uses 'pink slime' in chicken
nuggets, saying 'No, our Chicken McNuggets do not contain what some
people call 'pink slime' or 'pink goop.'
'We've
seen the photo of 'pink goop' or 'pink slime' in association with
McDonald's. Let's set the record straight: this image in connection with
McDonald's is a myth. In fact, we don't know where it came from, but
it's not our food. The photo is not a representation of how we create
our Chicken McNuggets, or for that matter, any item on our menu.'
However,
elsewhere McDonald's admits on the site that 'We use a small amount of
an anti-foaming agent, dimethylpolysiloxane, in the oil we use to cook
our Chicken McNuggets.'
It
also reveals that 'pink slime' was used in a seven-year period for
burgers, and that the chemical azodicarbonamide - which is used in yoga
mats - is an ingredient in buns and rolls.
'There
are varied uses for azodicarbonamide, including in some non-food
products, such as yoga mats. As a result, some people have suggested our
food contains rubber or plastic, or that the ingredient is unsafe. It's
simply not the case. Think of salt: the salt you use in your food at
home is a variation of the salt you may use to de-ice your sidewalk. The
same is true of ADA — it can be used in different ways.'
McDonald's
also confesses to using hormones on its website, saying 'Most of the
cattle we get our beef from are treated with added hormones, a common
practice in the U.S. that ranchers use to promote growth.'
As part of its campaign, McDonald's let ABC News see how the beef is produced in a California factory.
Director
of Quality Systems Rickette Collins, while holding some meat, told
reporter Gio Benitez 'This is what we call beef trim, and it comes from
familiar cuts that you may know, like chuck and round and sirloin.'
Speaking
about the quality of McDonald's food, she said it's 'Just like you get
at the grocery store - you buy like an 80/20 blend.'
The
new push comes as McDonald's fights to boost its performance in the
U.S., where sales slid 1.5 percent at established locations in the most
recent quarter, following a 0.2 percent dip for last year.
In
addition to increased competition, McDonald's is trying to keep up with
changing tastes, with places such as Chipotle marketing their food as
more wholesome alternatives.
To
improve the image of its food, McDonald's recently rolled out chicken
wraps with sliced cucumbers and the option to substitute egg whites in
breakfast sandwiches.
It also plans to eventually let people swap out the french fries in value meals with options like salad or vegetables.
Ben
Stringfellow, vice president of communications for McDonald's USA, said
in a phone interview with the Associated Press that the campaign is a
new way of engaging with customers more directly.
He noted people are demanding for more information about products across the board, not just from McDonald's.
'In many ways, it's the way the world is going,' he said.
National
TV ads will begin airing Monday letting people know about the push.
McDonald's says people can submit questions via social media sites such
as Twitter and Facebook.
The
company plans to respond to the most common questions with videos or
other posts, as well as responding one-on-one to questions, Stringfellow
said.
Laura
Ries, a marketing consultant based in Atlanta, noted McDonald's risks
bringing up unappetizing thoughts some people may never have heard
about.
'I didn't know people thought there were worms in its beef, or that they didn't use real chicken,' Ries said.
Still,
she agreed that companies have to be more responsive to questions from
customers, especially at a time when people can amplify their concerns
and criticisms to bigger audiences on social media.
slime - muł, szlam
myth - błędne przekonanie, mit
bust- rozbić, rozwalić (coś)
rumor (british rumour)- pogłoska, plotka
unprecedented - bezprecedensowy, niespotykany
bid - oferowana cena, oferta
urban - miejski
hurt - zranić
amid - wśród, pośród, pomiędzy
claim - twierdzić, utrzymywać
giant - wielkolud, olbrzym, gigant
pull back - rezygnować, wycofywać się
veil - zasłaniać się; welon, zasłona
transparency - slajd, przezrocze; jawność (kłamstwa), przejrzystość (np. informacji)
bravely - dzielnie, odważnie
throw - rzucać, pchnąć silnie, zarzucić (np. komuś ramiona na szyję)
wide - szeroki, bogaty (wybór), szeroko otwarty (oczy)
witness - świadek
patty - pasztecik
pure - czysty, bez domieszek
worldwide- na całym świecie, na świecie
provide - dostarczyć, zapewniać
proof - dowód
doubter - wątpiący, niewierzący
performance - przestawienie, spektakl, występ
truly - naprawdę, prawdziwie; dokładnie, poprawnie
rot - gnić, psuć się; żartować, nabijać się
chain - łańcuch, łańcuszek
unappetizing - nieapetyczny
beat - pokonać, wygrać ( z kimś, czmś); bić, pobić
bring - przynieść, przywieźć
effort - wysiłek, trud
flagship - okręt flagowy; produkt sztandarowy, wizytówka firmy
widely - szeroko, powszechnie
circulate - utrzymać cyrkulację czegoś; udostępniać, rozpowszechniać
dehydrated - odwodniony; sproszkowany (np. o mleku)l suchy (o żywności)
mold (british mould) - forma; typ (np. osobowości); pleśń
deny - zaprzeczać (np. zarzutom), wypierwać się (czegoś), dementować
contain - zawierać
goop - paskudztwo, ohyda
association - stowarzyszenie, towarzystwo, zrzeszenie
straight - prosty
amount - ilość, liczba, wielkość
foam - piana (np. kąpielowa), pianka ( w kawie); spieniać, pienić się
reveal - wyjawić, ujawnić
ingredient - składnik, element
bun - bułka, drożdzówka, bułka maślana
varied - różnorodny, urozmaicony
sidewalk - chodnik
cattle - bydło
trim - przycinać, podcinać; obniżać, zmniejszać
grocery - sklep spożywczy
boost - pobudzać, zwiększać, poprawiać
increased - zwiększony, wzmożony
competition - konkurencja (w biznesie)
swap - zamieniać, wymieniać
airing - wietrzenie; spacer na świeżym powietrzu
źródło:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2791768/what-s-really-happy-meal-mcdonald-s-begins-online-campaign-explain-burgers-not-rot-deny-makes-frankenfoods.html
