News

Residents protest McDonald's development in California town

January 15, 2012

Residents of Loma Linda, Calif., are fighting a development deal that would bring the first McDonald's restaurant to the town.

According to ABC News, 50 percent of Loma Linda residents subscribe to the Seventh-day Adventist religion, which strongly encourages a healthy lifestyle, including vegetarianism and abstention from alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.

Loma Linda, located east of Los Angeles and boasting a population of about 23,000, is known as one of the healthiest populations in the world.

ABC News focused on the battle between residents and McDonald's during its Nightline broadcast Jan. 13.

When McDonald's proposal to set up camp in Loma Linda initially was introduced, the city council meeting was crowded with residents mostly in opposition.

"McDonald's unfortunately has a reputation for being an industry that has not promoted health," said one resident.

"We don't want to legislate health, but I believe we ought to do everything we can to create a healthy environment," added resident Dr. Wayne Dysinger.

Another resident interviewed outside of the town's Carl's Jr., one of the few QSRs in Loma Linda, said it's annoying when "nanny-state people" try to tell him what to eat. Carl's Jr. also came under fire when it first opened in the city, according to the report. Other chains, such as KFC, Del Taco, Baker's Burger and Weinerschnitzel, also have a presence in the town.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has not officially taken a stance on the issue, but encourages a balanced, healthy diet and lifestyle.

Mayor Dusty Rigsby weighed in on the debate, saying it's not the government's responsibility to legislate such an issue. However, he added that if citizen opposition is strong enough, a ballot initiative enabling residents to vote on the issue may be the best approach.

Ironically, the first McDonald's opened in 1940 in San Bernardino, Calif., about 5 miles down the road from Loma Linda.

McDonald's released this full response about the Loma Linda opposition:

"McDonald's wants to be a good neighbor in the communities we serve. We have been working hard over the past several years to ensure we have options on our menu to meet a variety of dietary needs. For example, our line of Premium Salads can be ordered without meat. We also have other offerings including Apple Slices, Oatmeal and Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits as well as a variety of portion sizes.

"The City of Loma Linda approved this development for several uses, including the McDonald's restaurant. McDonald's and our franchisee look forward to working with the Loma Linda City Council and residents to hopefully address any questions or concerns. We believe the new restaurant will support the Loma Linda community with a contemporary dining experience and help fuel economic growth."

Read more about health and nutrition.