I'm currently reading The Food Revolution,
and I'm curious to know if American fast food corporations, such
as McDonalds, that operate in other countries must buy their products
from national suppliers? For example, you cite in your book The
Food Revolution that countries such as Sweden have adopted legislation
that has abolished the most inhumane farming practices. Does this
mean that a McDonalds in Sweden supplies consumers with a more compassionately
produced product?
Kyle
Dear Kyle,
Yes. And not only do the McDonald's restaurants in Sweden serve
meat from animals that have been far more humanely treated than
U.S. livestock, but the Swedish arm of the company has also taken
major steps toward becoming more Earth-friendly. McDonald's totally
dominates the fast food hamburger market in Sweden, selling 75 percent
of the nation's burgers. And it does this while serving organic
vegetables, milk and beef. It also recycles 97 percent of all restaurant
waste. Fast food chains in the United States often say that such
changes would render them unprofitable. But in Sweden, McDonald's
has prospered while cutting fuel costs and pollution by over 30
percent through reducing distribution distances, and while eliminating
thousands of tons of packaging material by changing to more environmental
packaging. More than half of the 160 Swedish McDonald's restaurants
and its national headquarters now run on renewable energy.
