[appleiigs]

As part of an intro to optimization class in university, we inputted gov't nutrition health guidelines and the McDonalds nutritional menu into a model. Solved how we could hit the health guidelines (min and maximums) by only eating McDs. Basic conclusion is McDs is fine if you don't eat the fries or sodas.

The book "Fast Food Nation" was an optional reading. It explained how McD single-handedly improved the quality of beef and potato industry in the US.

[m463]

Aren't government nutritional health guidelines heavily influenced by politics/outside influence?

I know we've gotten past the food pyramid, but don't guidelines continue to heavily favor dairy?

(and doesn't mcdonalds still have a lot of saturated fat?)

[johnnyanmac]

I could be making huge assumptions here. But I imagine the GP's experiment was as simple as focusing on "recommended calories" (which is 2000 per day) and secondarily, keeping under/over certain nutrients (low sugar/cholesterol/fat, high vitamins).

Food pyramid was much less scientific and more of a basic guideline for school children (and yes, the dairy campaigns were very successful, though dairy at least has nutritional value and usually a good "fill" factor). But I don't think any of those hard nutrient recommendations were every challenged.

Were they? I honestly haven't looked into it.

[vmladenov]

I don’t recall coming away from Fast Food Nation with the impression that McD improved things, but it has been many years. I thought the book focused on how agribusiness increased the risk of contamination by pathogens like E. coli and the effects of marketing to children.