9-yr-old grills McD’s over junk food

A 9-year-old girl took on the head of McDonald's Corp. on healthy eating during the fast-food chain's annual shareholders meeting on Thursday.

Fourth-grader Hannah Robertson, who spoke up during the gathering's question-and-answer session, told the fast food mogul that it would be nice if he stopped trying to trick kids into wanting to eat junk food all the time, the New York Daily News reported.

"Something that I don't think is fair is when big companies try to trick kids into eating food that isn't good for them by using toys and cartoon characters," the girl said, reading from prepared remarks," she said.

She added that if parents haven't taught their kids about healthy eating, then the kids probably believe that junk food is good for them because it tastes good.

Robertson attended the meeting with her mother at the global giant's headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill.

Kia Robertson, who runs "Today I Ate a Rainbow," a Toronto business that encourages children to eat healthy food, also addressed the gathering, as did other health food advocates.

McDonald's Corp CEO Don Thompson told the girl that they don't sell junk food, as his kids also eat McDonald's.

He took pains to remind Robertson that McD's also sells salads, including apple slices in Happy Meals.

First Published: May 26, 2013 03:10 IST