Questions answered

There are 14 questions about “Corporate Social Responsibility” in the “How do you operate?” topic.

Click on a question to read our answer.

1. why do you eat animals why dont you put some healthy food like fruit and veg you are just getting people fat cause we are 1 of the fatisted places on earth by codie donnellan age 14 cowes high school isle of wight
The obesity debate is a complex one, and includes things like diet, the amount of exercise people do, and their lifestyle. The reality is that customers eat at McDonald’s two or three times a month on average, which means they get 97 percent of their meals elsewhere. And there’s more choice than ever on the menu since the introduction of salads, Toasted Deli Sandwiches and porridge. Fruit bags and carrots are available, and there is also lots of nutritional information available in the restaurants and online. Hope this helps. (May 2008)

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2. exactly who do you think you're fooling. please Don't tell me you're not fooling anybody. I am no fool And I won't be fooled. just who ?
McDonald's isn't trying to fool anyone. The Make Up Your Own Mind Site was launched to allow anybody to discuss issues or strongly held views they might have relating to McDonald's. The website has seen over 16,000 questions asked, proving a success with both customers and intrigued members of the public alike. All the questions that you see on the site are genuine, and a look through the site will reveal the good, bad and the ugly have been honestly answered. Questions relating to animal welfare, contents, globalisation and other topical subjects are all here. If it is relevant to McDonald's food and not offensive, the Make Up Your Own Mind team will endeavour to answer it and post it on the site. (July 2008)

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3. what are mcdonalds ethical issues? how could they improve them?
Firstly McDonald's apologises unreservedly for the late reply to your question. There were some technical problems which caused some questions to slip through. Regarding your question; it is no secret that McDonald's is a very successful brand, and this is something that the company is very proud of. A portion of this success is attributed to the company's attention to its social and ethical responsibilities, which McDonald's takes very seriously. Throughout different areas of its business, McDonald's tries to proactively ensure that the best measures and highest ethical standards are in place. These include the supply chain, which is assessed against McDonald's Agricultural Assurance Programme right across Europe, recently resulting in an award for animal welfare from the RSPCA. Or issues such as the environment, where McDonald's presence in the local community can be seen through litter patrols and the annual anti-littering campaigns. Over 250 clean-ups were held in 2006 across the UK. This also extends to recycling too. Hamburger boxes, Chicken McNuggets boxes, French fry cartons and apple pie boxes are made from 72 per cent recycled paper whilst the take-away bags, trayliners and cup carriers are made from 100 per cent recycled paper. Other initiatives include the conversion of cooking oil used in the food preparation into bio-diesel fuel which is then used for the company's distribution fleet. These are a few examples of the efforts that McDonald's is putting in to remain a positive and progressive business - but there is always more to be done, particularly as available technology around recycling, waste and energy use improves. You can find out more about McDonald's by logging onto www.mcdonalds.co.uk and also by exploring the many links on this site in the 'McDonald's News section' (check out the Green City article). There is also a useful Student Information Pack that has some further information about the company. You can receive your own pack by emailing rowlands.office@btconnect.com.

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4. i think it is disgusting the way you try and dismiss fair trade as not being the best way to help the poverty of less economically developed countries. I hope you are ashamed of yourselves as you clearly do not care at all about helping those in need in the world. i hope you have trouble sleeping at night
Sensitive and important subjects such as poverty and fair trade are matters that McDonald's does not dismiss or take lightly in any way, and although Fair trade is the most recognised mark to indicate that suppliers and retailers treat growers and local communities fairly, it is not the only one. McDonald’s, along with 19 other members, has joined the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, which was created by the food industry to improve conditions for local communities. This great new initiative led McDonald's to change its coffee to a new Kenco Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee. This was chosen because the programme takes a holistic approach to supply chain sustainability. What this means is that because farms are certified based on social and environmental standards that guide farmers towards long-term sustainable farm management, the quality of the coffee produced is generally higher. This means that McDonald’s customers get competitively priced high quality Arabica coffee that has been produced sustainably according to standards that benefit coffee farmers and the environment. McDonald's firmly believes that the Rainforest Alliance's focus on social and environmental standards and sustainable farm management complements its own supply chain principles. If you would like further information on the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, please visit the website at www.saiplatform.org, where you’ll find a section on coffee growing. You can also look out for more information in restaurants or at www.rainforest-alliance.org. (December 2007)

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5. Where are the toys for your Happy Meals made? Can you guarantee that the workers are paid a fair wage and work in conditions that include reasonable hours and the right to join a union?
McDonald's has strict procedures in place to ensure that all suppliers comply to its terms of business and this includes the manufacturers of the Happy Meal toys across Europe and the Far East. Inspections are made of all premises and special attention is given to workers' conditions. At the moment, there is no global standard that applies to this kind of manufacture but suffice it to say, the company refuses to work with any company that does not treat its employees well, pays unfairly and/or uses child-labour.

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6. im looking for Organisational structre of McDonalds , How it maintains its structure, is it a centralized system or decentralizedone, What is exactly the hierarchal breackdown of pwer, How managers are placed,What number of managers work in one franchis ,how management and organization of the company operate,what are the strengths and weaknesses of McDonalds?(about UK McDonalds)
For information regarding McDonald's UK you can get a Student Information Pack which is designed to address all your questions. To obtain your copy of the pack please contact: McDonald's Education Service, McDonald's Restaurants Ltd, 11-59 High Rd, East Finchley, London, NW2 8AW. Phone: 020 8700 7365. The McDonald's website www.mcdonalds.co.uk is another good resource. (October 2007)

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7. How much would it cost you becoming an ethical business? would it really affect your profits that much?
McDonald’s takes its global responsibility very seriously. The company has an ongoing policy of implementing practices throughout the whole food supply chain to ensure that the food is produced in an ethical and sustainable manner. McDonald’s has joined 19 other members of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, created by the food industry to improve conditions for local communities, and to preserve and improve the condition of natural resources. One new initiative is the launch of the Kenco Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee range. there’s more information about this at www.saiplatform.org - the Sustainable Agricultural Initiative Platform website.

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8. How does McDonald's target children through its marketing communications? Does McDonald's have an active policy of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and is this in conflict with its advertising to children?
As a starting point, McDonald's talks to parents about the messages that they feel would be appropriate for their children to hear about Happy Meals. By combining the input of parents with McDonald's overall approach to advertising, the company believes that it can continue to talk to children in an educative and appealing way to inform them about the food choices they make, the fun they can have using their imaginations as well as ways that they can take part in physical activity. There have been many changes to recipes over the past few years that have reduced the salt, fat and sugar in many menu items including Hamburgers, Fries and buns. More choice has also been added to the menu including Organic Semi-Skimmed Milk, Orange Juice, Vittel Water, Fruit Bags and Carrot Sticks. If you are interested in finding out more about McDonald's Corporate Responsibility, you can obtain the report from the Customer Services Team on 08705 244 622.

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9. I heard that you capture all customers' faces on CCTV and then try to find them on Google Earth so you can send them junk mail. Is that true and if so are you recruiting because I am very good at recognising people from photographs?
No, that's not true. CCTV is installed in all stores for the safety of staff and customers. (September 2007)

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10. There are charity boxes in each of your stores. When you cash your tills if there is extra (ie... the server has been giving the wrong change) does this go to charity or is it counted in the stores takings for the day?
The money collected in the charity boxes is totally separate from the money in the tills. Any cash surplus when the tills are counted would not be placed in the charity box. (June 2007)

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11. Why don't you just accept the fact that you are a corporate behemoth that most discerning people cannot stand? Just get on with what you do and stop pumping your pathetic PR codswallop out. You do not have the best interests of your staff or consumers at heart. You have the best interests of your shareholders to serve.
It's a very passionate statement and McDonald's is just as passionate about the way it conducts its business. You are right - one of the company's aims is to make a profit for its shareholders, such is the objective of most businesses. However, this would be impossible to achieve if your statement regarding the lack of interest in its staff and customers was true. If the company failed to listen to customers and provide good value for money, quality food that tastes great then customers would vote with their feet, wouldn't they? And if the company failed to motivate its staff and have their best interests at heart - again it wouldn't be very long before it found itself without a workforce, would it? In truth, the fantastic success of McDonald's is down to these very people. McDonald's has immense pride in its entire staff, from Crew Members to Senior Management. Their continuing contribution is vital, and the company's appreciation of this manifests itself in rewarding them with great training, benefits and real progression prospects. And customers and their needs are the foundation to success with most businesses and McDonald’s is no different. Good service, great food and value for money, along with social issues such as diet and the environment are of paramount importance to the company. McDonald's works closely with many different organisations to make sure conditions and procedures are carried out to the highest standards. Take a look around this site and see some of the questions that people are asking about McDonald's. Also check out the Quality Scout reports and videos that shown genuine people, with genuine concerns finding out more about McDonald's. The site isn't designed to change your mind - only to show that there are two sides to every story and sometimes firmly held beliefs about the way that McDonald's conducts itself might have a basis in fiction, rather than fact. (May 2007)

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12. having seen programmes like super size me where he eats only mcdonalds, can i ask why you think he displayed not only physical problems but emotional and psychological problems? and if you believe that a person can live healthily off mcdonalds burgers alone? thanks
McDonald's sees the film ‘Super Size Me’ as a personal experiment by a filmmaker, based on eating too much while doing far too little exercise. Of course, films like this can affect peoples’ perceptions of McDonald's. But the film offered just one side of the argument and McDonald's believes that people have the right to make up their own mind based on the facts. And this web site has been set up to give people a place to ask questions that they might have about McDonald's, so that they can make an informed choice.

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13. I am sure you have been approached already, and are aware of the apalling disappearance of Madeleine Mcann. Mcdonalds has branches all over the world, and makes a huge amount of money from childrens meals. Are you heading a poster campaign in your restaurants yet? Please consider it, it may make a difference. Thankyou.
The company would like to take this opportunity to express its concern and hopes for Madeleine's safe return. Local McDonald's restaurants in Spain and Portugal are displaying posters to help the campaign locally.

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14. what is your CSR policy?
If you are interested in finding out more about this you can obtain McDonald's Corporate Responsibility Report from the Customer Services Team on 08705 244622

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