Advertisement

McDonald’s salads a financial failure: Maybe it’s because they aren’t healthier than their burgers?

McDonald’s salads a financial failure: Maybe it’s because they aren’t healthier than their burgers?

Surprise, surprise. McDonald's CEO Don Thompson announced this week at an investors conference that the food giant's salads only make up for 2 to 3 per cent of total sales, reports Bloomberg.

“I don’t see salads as being a major growth driver in the near future,” Thompson said the conference. "There are other ways to sell fruits and vegetables."

He then went on to say that the Dollar Menu generates 13 to 14 per cent of sales, and that instead of advertising salads, the company may push hamburgers and chicken sandwiches where veggies and fruits can be added.

In recent months, McDonald’s has dropped its Chicken Selects and its Fruit & Walnut Salad from their menu.

Also see: Kelowna, B.C. girl tells McDonald's CEO to 'stop trying to trick kids'

Thompson's announcement comes just weeks after he was called out about healthy options by a nine-year-old Canadian girl who was invited to speak at a shareholders meeting.

So what does his latest announcement mean for consumers? Is there a reason we don't choose his company salads? Is it simply because we just can't give up our salt-laden, artery clogging burgers?

Maybe. But one thing we know for sure: most McDonald's entree salads offered in Canada have the same amount of calories and fat, if not more, than their burgers.

Also see: McDonald's just created its highest calorie menu item ever

Here is the nutritional breakdown of some of their entree salads and burgers:

Tuscan Chicken Salad (crispy chicken with balsamic dressing) - 530 calories, 30 grams fat

Might Caeser Salad (crispy chicken with caeser dressing) - 710 calories, 54 grams of fat

Cashew Teriyaki Salad (crispy chicken with Asian dressing) - 530 calories, 29 grams of fat

Big Mac - 540 calories, 29 grams of fat

Quarter Pounder with cheese - 530 calories, 28 grams of fat

McChicken - 470 calories, 27 grams of fat

Does this nutritional breakdown suprise anyone? If McDonald's offered salads with less calories, would you be more interested in buying one? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.