McDonalds Fights Back Against 'Super Size Me'

"In every territory we've been in, that's their strategy, to take out adverts and put out press releases about this irresponsible film-maker.  They paint this picture of me as a lethargic slob who just sat and ate McDonald's for hours on end, when I was just emulating the daily physical activity of most Americans, who walk only a mile and a half a day."

Spurlock also criticized McDonalds for only concentrating on the weight-gain aspects of his experiement.

"What they never talk about is how these foods can be linked to diabetes, elevated cholesterol, heart disease, liver disease."

To it's credit, McDonalds has initiated some changes to their policies since the film came out.  They have annouced they are discontinuing their extra-large Super Size option.  They have also added salads, organic milk and fruit to their menu as well as reducing the amount of salt in their fries.

Spurlock stresses, however, that his argument is with fast food in general.  The reason he concentrated on McDonalds is because of the company's aggresive targeting of children.  He was not surprised that the company placed ads against his film in the UK.

In Super Size Me, the New York-based film-maker tests the effects of a fast-food diet by eating three McDonald's meals a day and undertaking minimal exercise over a 30-day period.

The title comes from Spurlock's rule that, if offered a Super Size option, he has to accept. After his first Super Size meal, we see Spurlock suffering the "McSweats" and the "McTwitches", before throwing up.

However, he soon gets addicted to Big Macs, becomes depressed and lethargic, suffers a loss of libido and incurs liver damage. His horrified doctor comments that his liver has become "like pate".

The film cost $65,000 to make and has grossed over $11m since its US release in May, making it the fourth most successful documentary ever in the US.

Source: New Zealand Herald