Is McDonald's Food, Burger Still Healthy or Not after Sales Decline?

By Staff Writer

Feb 16, 2015 07:32 AM EST

Recently, McDonald's Corp is cutting the amount of salt and calories in their Indian menu. Aside from cutting off salt, the fast food company also added healthier items to their menu. Thus, making it more convincing to people that the food they serve are now healthy.

Business Insider reported that McDonald's is taking another way to tell people and convince them that they are serving the right kind of food by taking an unapologetic approach.

Since consumers have been continuously and increasingly wary about the brand, the total sales fell down to 1.8% in January causing CEO Don Thompson leaving McDonald's at the end of the month after three years of serving the company. However, according to the same source, the said fast food company responded to these slumps by adding healthier menu. Such items include Egg White Delight sandwich and Blueberry Pomegranate smoothie.

In India, cutting off some amounts of salt and calories were their first few steps. First Post said that McDonald's are now figthing against its rivals. Nevertheless, in order to keep customers, they decided to develop newer, and healthier fast-food options to catch on.

Vice President of one of the two India's main McDonald's franchise Amit Jatia mentioned that the changes of reducing sodium and calories in their fries, buns, and sauces were done gradually and they're subtle enough to keep the taste since that is what customers known for years. Yet, they are trying to manage to make customers happy by keeping their signature taste and at the same time to keep the healthy lifestyle that the majority are seeking. 

"It wasn't as if we suddenly cut the salt in our foods one day. Our menu  and sourcing teams have been working to make slight alterations for months now," Jatia told Reuters.

They have reduced sodium for their buns and sauces for around 10% and with fries by 20%. Calories in sauces are 30-40% reduced from the past six months.

The same site source cited that the loyalists said that they haven't detected any sign of difference to the taste though they have been altered in the sodium and calorie amount.

Rahul Dutta, 29, a marketing executive based in New Delhi, said, "I order in from McDo's at least twice a month and think it tastes pretty much the same."

Currently, there is an existing corporate social responsibility report where McDonald's said that by 2020 they will be serving salads, fruit or vegetables as a form of substitute in its value meals in their 20 major markets.

On the other side, the brand has also made a point of taking the step to a more transparent service by making it clear to customers that they are serving good food. Videos in making the famous McDonald's burgers, chicken nuggets, and french fries are made. In spite of these undertakings towards the brand's transparency, still the former brand's executive Larry Light revealed that there are 19 ingredients included to make their famous fries that people enjoy.

"These include sodium acid pyrosphosphate,hydrogenated soybean oil with tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), and the delightful dimethlypolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent," Light said.

McDonald's, in general, has been working to keep their brand strong through making it sure that they have given their customers the best service. However, by taking a big step towards a healthy lifestyle by adjusting their menu apt for people's need to become healthier is now their biggest leap.

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