WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Fast food fight

Burlington, Vermont - October 20, 2011

Health care professionals and parents gathered in Burlington Thursday to send a message to McDonald's. They want the fast food giant to stop marketing junk food to kids.

It's part of a national initiative to curb childhood obesity. Advocates say McDonald's spends more than $400 million a year marketing its unhealthy food to children. The groups want McDonald's to retire Ronald McDonald and remove toys from its happy meals. Advocates say despite a few recent changes, McDonald's is not doing enough.

"When more than 50 percent of the public said they felt junk food mascots like Ronald McDonald should retire, the corporation promoted the clown's charitable work. When the toy in happy meals received scrutiny, the corporation replaced a small portion of the French fries with apple slices. Doing wonders for their public image but not doing a whole lot change the nutritional value of this product that they are directly marketing to our children," said Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, D-Orange.

"I see the toll that that food takes and that fast food marketing makes every day. I see bullying of these obese children. I see children that cannot participate in gym class because they can't keep up with their peers," said Jennifer Laurent of the Vermont Nurse Practitioners Association.

Medical professionals say one in three children in the US are now at greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within their lifetime because of diets high in fast food. More than 1,600 medical professionals nationwide have signed a letter to the CEO of McDonald's supporting the initiative.