Has the National Heart Foundation Tick been 'Hamburgled'?

Dr Haikerwal was responding to news that the Heart Foundation has bestowed its Tick upon nine of the many meals available from McDonald's restaurants in Australia.

"The question has to be asked: has the credibility of the Heart Foundation Tick been 'hamburgled'?" Dr Haikerwal said.

"We live in a time when obesity is a major widespread health concern and the need for people to take care with food choices is greater than ever before.

"Consumers are also faced with unprecedented labelling confusion as to just what is contained in the food they are eating.

"I fear that the Tick may create a 'halo' effect around a small number of meals on an extensive McDonald's menu that contains many items that are clearly unhealthy.

"These 'less unhealthy' meals could very well be loss leaders to get people through the door and expose them to the toys, chips and burgers that have contributed to the serious obesity and overweight problems in Australia, especially among kids.

"While McDonald's is to be commended for efforts in changing its menu, I think it may be a bit early for the fast food chain to be rewarded with a National Heart Foundation Tick.

"Wouldn't it have been more appropriate when there was clear evidence that the nine new meals were popular with consumers as the first choice foods or the only choice foods ahead of the more unhealthy items available at McDonald's?"

Dr Haikerwal said the reported $330,000 a year that McDonald's is paying for the Tick may also be putting the National Heart Foundation's endorsement out of reach of smaller food outlets that provide genuine healthy food choices across the board.