It's not much of a secret that a diet heavy in fast food isn't good for you, but Americans continue to shovel burgers and fries down their maws as much as ever (We can't help it, they're so delicious). However, with obesity an ever growing concern, you'd think it would only be a matter of time until ads touting the dangers of fast food started popping up along side anti-smoking, drug, and alcohol PSAs.
Actually, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine was all set to air an ad taking aim at McDonald's in the South Florida market, but every major local TV station has refused to air it.
Here's the ad in question which shows an overweight man dead on a doctor's table clutching a burger. Hey, it's slightly more dignified way to go out than Mama Cass and her ham sandwich.
After taking a direct swipe at McD's, the ad then warns of the dangers of fast food and implores consumers to eat vegetarian. Does that mean we should just order two orders of large fries instead of a Big Mac?
The Palm Beach Post reports that WSVN, WTVJ, WPLG and WFOR all refuse to air the ad.
It's not stated why those stations aren't broadcasting the ad, but Palm Beach station WPEC refused to air it unless the direct reference to McDonald's was taken out. We don't know whether the station is worried about legal ramifications from the Golden Arches or the possibility the restaurant chain might pull its own ads.
"This commercial is outrageous, misleading and unfair to all consumers. McDonald's trusts our customers to put such outlandish propaganda in perspective, and to make food and lifestyle choices that are right for them," Bridget Coffing, vice president of McDonald's Global Communications, wrote in a statement released to The Washington Post.
So far the ad has only aired a handful of times in the Washington, D.C. market.
