McDonalds Customers Want A 100\% Whole Grain Option

Your company has consistently asserted in recent years that your customers' health is important to you, and that you want to offer healthy choices to support your customers in their desire to eat a balanced, healthy meal when visiting your restaurants. Unfortunately, you do not seem to see whole grains as being part of that, and you have stated that you have no plans to add them to your menu. In a recent letter where you were asked to carry one whole grain option, this was McDonald's Corporation's reply:

"...We're always reviewing our menu to find ways to satisfy the diverse needs and tastes of our customers. While whole wheat buns for our sandwiches are an option that we've explored, we have no plans to offer them at this time. To ensure we offer the freshest products possible, we must sometimes limit our menu options...offering those products which are purchased most often by our customers..." ~ Lisa, McDonald's Customer Response Center, 2/28/09

It has been well documented and proven that 100\% whole grain products are of significant health benefit above products which are enriched and bleached. According to The Whole Grains Council (http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/what-are-the-health-benefits), "Studies show that eating whole grains instead of refined grains lowers the risk of many chronic diseases. While benefits are most pronounced for those consuming at least 3 servings daily, some studies show reduced risks from as little as one serving daily. The message: every whole grain in your diet helps!"

Knowing that, and knowing the countless other health benefits proven to be found in whole grains, we, the undersigned, are part of the millions of people who either cannot, or will not, eat enriched bread products, or who have someone we care about who falls under this category.

In signing this petition, we specifically request that you begin offering at least one 100\% whole grain option on your regular menu.

PLEASE NOTE: we are NOT asking you to remove any option from your menu. We are simply asking that you have ONE bun available that is 100\% whole grain than can be requested and substituted on any sandwich on your menu, even if that means paying an additional fee.

There are MANY of us who will not eat fast food, at McDonald's or elsewhere, where there is NO 100\% whole grain option available. If we were able to substitute any regular bun on your menu with a whole grain bun, it would make a significant difference in the frequency of our visits to your establishment.

Our commitment is to our health first, and we hope you will truly want to be part of that commitment in accordance with your stated goals and objectives in supporting your customers' healthy lifestyles.