Prevention Matters

From the 12/07 edition of London's The Guardian:

"Health campaigners have warned that attempts to use the London 2012 Olympics to improve public health may be undermined by today's announcement that one in five meals served to fans at the games will come from McDonald's.

"Launching their food strategy, games organisers said that 3m of the 14m meals served during the two-week event will be prepared by the fast food chain. All branded soft drinks will be provided by Coca-Cola and the only other branded food on sale will be Cadbury's chocolate. McDonald's and Coca-Cola both sponsor the International Olympic Committee, which passes several million pounds of those revenues to London's organisers, while Cadbury pays £20m as a direct sponsor of the 2012 games.

"The British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the National Obesity Forum (NOF) said the policy undermined claims from Lord Coe, the chairman of the London organising committee, and Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, that one of the main legacies of hosting the Olympics will be improved health across the nation. McDonald's outlets will be erected across the athletes' village, the main Olympic park and in the media centre. 'Health does not seem to be high on their agenda,' said Ruairi O'Connor, head of policy at the BHF."