Faster. Higher. Stronger.
McDonald's is certainly taking the Olympic motto to heart by building its largest restaurant ever for the 2012 Summer Games in London. The 32,000 square foot monstrosity is just one of four new locations the burger giant will use to serve the sports-loving fans who flock to the city. The restaurant expects to serve a mound of fast food over the nearly month-long Games. Early projections include 50,000 Big Macs, more than 100,000 portions of fries and 30,000 milkshakes.
But British health officials don't think there's anything happy about these meals.
"Given the huge public health issues of childhood obesity," said parliament health committee member Grahame Morris in a statement, "it is legitimate to question whether having the world's biggest McDonald's at the Olympic Park is sending an appropriate message to our young people."
The British Medical Association went even further: "Given many countries in the developed world, and some in the developing world, are facing a major problem with obesity, it is unfortunate that McDonalds are major sponsors at the 2012 London Olympics."
The company, with over 32,000 locations worldwide, has been a sponsor of the quadrennial games since 1976. Next year the golden arches will take that presence to a whole new level, reports the London Evening Standard. The main branch in Stratford will stretch nearly half of a football field, hold 1,500 seats and require nearly 500 employees.
McDonald's will even have a location in the athletes' village, although who knows if any of the perfectly-toned competitors will fuel up before the biggest events of their careers with fries and a shake.
Certainly the health-conscious will continue to rue the consumption of so much fast food alongside such feats of human performance. For its part, a company spokesperson said in a statement that McDonald's food "can fit into a balanced, active lifestyle."
The BMA wants more discipline on the part of the company and its customers, insisting "these products should be seen as very rare treats."
Not likely. McDonald's believes one in five meals eaten during the Olympics in London will be one of theirs.
Faster. Higher. Stronger. Fuller? Or just fatter?
