Nuns Ask McDonalds to Come Clean on Kids' Calories

Perhaps when the meek inherit the earth they would like it to be a healthier place. Katherine Hobson of The Wall Street Journal reports that a group of Philadelphia nuns wants McDonald’s to examine its own “policy response” to obesity and other diet-related diseases in kids.

That’s the McNugget unearthed by footnoted.com from the fast food company’s preliminary proxy statement. Proposal No. 11 is offered by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, leading a coalition of other orders and Catholic institutions. (The Sisters of St. Francis own at least $2,000 of McDonald’s common stock, according to the proposal.)

The proposed resolution:

“WHEREAS, the contribution of the fast food industry to the global epidemic of childhood obesity and to diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease, have become a major public issue …”

(Then the proposal lists a mess of statistics about childhood obesity and food marketing to children, as well as a list of actions by other groups, including the Happy Meal crackdowns in northern California.)

“RESOLVED: Shareholders ask the Board of Directors to issue a report, at reasonable expense and excluding proprietary information, within six months of the 2011 annual meeting, assessing the company’s policy responses to public concerns regarding linkages of fast food to childhood obesity, diet-related diseases and other impacts on children’s health. Such report should include an assessment of the potential impacts of public concerns and evolving public policy on the company’s finances and operations.”

Footnoted.com says that McDonald’s eventual response will likely include “lots of facts and figures, [and] will also suggest that shareholders vote against the company having to issue such a report.” Look for that in a future filing.