McDonalds

[Sally71]

Daughter has an Inset day today so we decided to give ourselves a day out and go to the cinema to see the Paddington film (really good - but that's another story!). Then on the spur of the moment decided to go to McDonalds for lunch on the way back.

OK so not the healthiest of establishments, but we haven't been for months (honestly!) and I don't see the problem if it is only an occasional treat. One thing in their favour is that they put nutritional info including carbs on the back of the packets, which makes my life a lot easier.

But today we found out that the total carbs info has been replaced by sugars - which of course is the most USELESS piece of information on the planet 😡
So I had to guess the carb count. There was a website shown on the packet so brought that home with me to have a look.

The website showed all the info I needed and it seems I guessed the carb count bang on, so I'm either getting rather good at eyeballing food, or some deep recess of my brain remembered what we did last time. There was a Contact Us section too so I've now emailed them to register my unhappiness at this change, explaining exactly why I need the carbs info but also pointing out that as all carbs turn to sugar in your stomach, the sugars alone info isn't much use to the rest of the population either.

Most non-Ds don't seem to realise this though, so I don't know if it will do any good

Rant over!

 

[Caroline]

Good for you contacting MacDonalds, I hope they listen.

I have had the conversation about carbs and sugars with many different people and only the diabetics amongst us seem to get it

 

[novorapidboi26]

I use the app myfitnesspal, which is also a website, this will have the information you need..........

large fries is 60g

burger 40g

this is a good place to start if you don't have access to the app or website.....

 

[Andy HB]

Isn't "Treat" and "McDonalds" an example of an oxymoron? 😉

 

[HOBIE]

Well done Sally ! Rant & people might think nxt time. (Mac e d People)

 

[ypauly]

They used to have all the info required on the back of their tray liners, of course if you go through a drive-thru you need to ask for one.

I don't know if they have stopped this now but they hadn't a couple of weeks ago.

 

[DeusXM]

I have had the conversation about carbs and sugars with many different people and only the diabetics amongst us seem to get it

The other thing they also don't get is the idea that there's no difference between 'natural' and 'added' sugars as far as your body's concerned.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The other thing they also don't get is the idea that there's no difference between 'natural' and 'added' sugars as far as your body's concerned.

Or very much difference between 'sucrose' and 'flour' to be honest. Though the fat should slow things down a little I suppose.

 

[Sally71]

Isn't "Treat" and "McDonalds" an example of an oxymoron? 😉

Not if you're an average 8 year old!

I too unfortunately enjoy junk food far too much and healthy food not enough, and I don't enjoy exercise either
Since Christmas I have been making more effort to eat more good stuff and less of the rubbish, and have actually started to lose a few lbs - long overdue really.
Obviously I totally blew it today though - had popcorn at the cinema as well 😱😱
Oh well, start again tomorrow...

 

[Sally71]

They used to have all the info required on the back of their tray liners, of course if you go through a drive-thru you need to ask for one.

I don't know if they have stopped this now but they hadn't a couple of weeks ago.

I never thought to look at the tray liner, will have to remember that next time, thanks.

Not that I'm planning on going back very soon though!

 

[Bloden]

I use the app myfitnesspal, which is also a website, this will have the information you need..........

large fries is 60g

burger 40g

this is a good place to start if you don't have access to the app or website.....

Does 60g = 6 CPs and 40g = 4CPs? 🙂 We go there ev now and then.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Does 60g = 6 CPs and 40g = 4CPs? 🙂 We go there ev now and then.

Yes it does 🙂

 

[trophywench]

LOL at Bloden - do people seriously use CPs?

It's no use using em if you're pumping anyway, needs to be closer than the nearest 10g really.

 

[Copepod]

I've used McDonalds several times, mainly because of free wi-fi. Easy to work out CHO content for decent coffee, with no sugar or one sachet. Most recently yesterday, when visiting a nearby town, and had time to kill between physio and tea with friends.

 

[trophywench]

Do the burger boxes and chip-bags still have the carb count? I shall be seriously annoyed if not.

We go in MacD's wherever we are, it's a joke - since we have to check if it's one of the kitchens my husband built. We do actually go to use the Wifi usually and always have a coffee if we do, we also use it when on long journeys for lunch. But the problem is since the visits probably happen about 3x a year and mostly in France (the coffee's really good in France, shame it's in a paper cup though), we are not at all familiar with the carb values of anything they sell - hence I can have De-Luxe potatoes and some chicken thing with crispy bacon or whatever they are doing as a Special if I fancy it, and not worry cos the answer's on the box.

 

[Sally71]

That's what I'm on about TW - they seem to have replaced the carb count on the packets with Sugars only!! Hence my original rant. No use at all - luckily my daughter is a creature of habit and always has the same thing so it wasn't too hard to guess, but still, not very helpful of them!

 

[trophywench]

Oh well - I'll have to stop eating there then.

Wonder if it's worth having a word with Diabetes UK? Seems a ridiculously retrograde step to me.

 

[katie]

I went to macDonald's a few weeks ago and noticed they dont show the carbs anymore, It's a shame because it used to be so easy to know exactly what to take. I hardly ever go anyway, but it's quite annoying.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

That's what I'm on about TW - they seem to have replaced the carb count on the packets with Sugars only!! Hence my original rant. No use at all - luckily my daughter is a creature of habit and always has the same thing so it wasn't too hard to guess, but still, not very helpful of them!

Oh well - I'll have to stop eating there then.

Wonder if it's worth having a word with Diabetes UK? Seems a ridiculously retrograde step to me.

I went to macDonald's a few weeks ago and noticed they dont show the carbs anymore, It's a shame because it used to be so easy to know exactly what to take. I hardly ever go anyway, but it's quite annoying.

Sainsburys seemed to do something similar with their food packaging last year or the year before (about the time the new, more standardised version of traffic lights was supposed to be being brought in)

They rarely seem to list carbs per portion now on Sainsbury's things. Though they will tell you how much sucrose or saturated fat(!) is in a portion in a big flashy box on the front of the pack. And, Northie's favourite, sometimes it's all but impossible to find the weight of a portion, so calculating it from the per-100g carbs hidden on the back is sometimes not the easiest. Hey ho.

 

[Sally71]

I got an answer!

Answer received today from McDonalds!

Dear Mrs Jollands
*
Thanks for your question about McDonald’s and the recent changes we've made to our packaging.
*
As part of new European legislation which comes into force in December, there are new legal requirements for pre-packed food items and this states that we must now provide sugar and saturated fat content on our packaging. **Due to us having limited room to provide all nutritional information, we have taken the decision to remove the protein and carbohydrate content.* I’m sorry for any disappointment this may cause.
*
Just to let you know that because we receive so many questions about our food, we’ve created a special website where we’ve made it easy for you to find this information yourself. **As such, the carbohydrate content of our menu items can be found on the ‘Food’ section of our website, either at www.mcdonalds.co.uk or www.mcdonaldsmenu.info.* Furthermore, you can also find this information on our trayliners, and mobile phone app.
*
If you have any further question or don’t find what you’re looking for, please get back in touch.
*
Regards
*
*
*
Natasha Callis
Customer Services Team
*
*
*
Well at least they replied...

Doesn't seem like they are prepared to put both carbs and sugars on though

Although it does say it's on the tray liners as someone commented, must admit I've never even looked at the tray liners!

So it's all down to European law, which also explains why all supermarket products (Tesco now as well as Sainsbury's I have noticed) put sugars emblazoned all over the front but to find the carbs you have to hunt around in the small print on the back and sometimes get a calculator out!

Not happy... But what can we do about it?