From: red_trek@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg
Subject: McDonald's phone-in campaign
Date: 14 Dec 92 19:12:19 -0500
Organization: Carnegie Mellon Computer Club

I've already posted this, I think, but since some folk
have been suggesting dowing a phone in campaign on McDonald's
I thought it'd be appropriate to post it
again.

Eleven major fast-food chains are listed here, including McDonald's.

This file may be reposted or otherwise redistributed at will.
===========


The following information is copied without permission from brochures,
etc put out by the North American Vegetarian Society.  The NAVS can
be contacted for further information on this campaign, and on NAVS
itself, at:  NAVS, Box 72 Dolgeville NY 13329.
------------------------------------------------

"The North American Vegetarian Society has launched the 'VEGETARIAN
EXPRESS Fast Food Campaign' to help prompt 11 of the largest fast
food chains to provide low-fat, no cholesterol, meat-free, fish-free,
dairy-free, low-sodium entrees -- meals that would appeal to the 
average consumer, the health conscious and those concerned about the
welfare of animals and the environment.  Preferably, such entrees would
have no or minimal amounts of preservatives as well."

All cholesterol and most saturated fats come from animal products
(meat, dairies, and eggs).  High cosumption rates of saturated fats
and cholesterol is linked to increased risk for various heart diseases
and cancer.  Excessive protein intake (a problem for many North Americans
who consume some form of animal product daily) can increase your risk
of osteoporosis (increased protein intake, above and beyond what your
body needs to thrive, can lead to calcium being leeched from your bones
and lost through the urine).  Eating less animal products in general --
not just red meat -- can be better for your health.

It's also better for the environment:  85% of topsoil depletion is
"directly related to livestock production, including grazing and 
growing feedcrops.  Farm fields lose about 5 pounds of topsoil for
each pound of red meat produced.  75% of the topsoil in the United
States has been lost," primarily because of our heavily meat-based
diet.

On top of that, it's kinder to the animals: "[s]ix billion animals
are killed each year for consumption by Americans.  Given a choice, 
most people want to prevent unnecessary suffering, and meatless
meals can help."

"Low-fat all-plant vegetarian entrees at fast food restaurants
will benefit everyone.  Eating less animal products, and more vegetables,
fruits, whole grains and legumes, is better for our health, the
environment and animals.

"Fast food restaurants, like other businesses, want to meet consumer 
demand.  If enough people ask for low-fat, all plant vegetarian 
entrees, we will undoubtedly get them.

"You can help make vegetarian entrees posible at fast food restaurants,
even if you eat only occasional meatless meals."  You can send
your signature, name and address to:  NAVS, PO Box 72, Dolgeville, NY
13329, and NAVS will count you as a consumer who wants all-plant
vegetarian entrees.

You can also call or write one of the following fast food chains
to tell them you want an all-plant entree with no meat, fish,
fowl, or dairy, and little or no preservatives.  Send copies of
your correspondence to NAVS, Box 72, Dolgeville, NY 13329.

"We recommend all letters and calls be upbeat and positive--after
all, what we want is an upbeat and positive alternative!"

[NAVS lists the chains alphabetically, apparently without targeting
any one chain in particular.  Some ambitious readers may want to contact
all chains.  Less energetic or busier folk may want to pick one or two
chains; you'll probably have your own preferences which you select,
which, of course, is fine -- but strictly IMHO, I'd suggest targeting
McDonald's if you don't contact anyone else, 
McDonal'ds if you don't contact anyone else, and maybe Burger King
and Wendy's if you have time to contact a couple more.  These, I
believe, are the largest chains, both nationally and internationally.]

    WHAT TO ASK FOR, WHERE TO WRITE
     ----------------------------------

* Arby's Restaurant, 6917 Collins Ave, Box 515177, Miami Beach FL 33141
(305) 866-1904.  Possible suggestion:  A grain- or bean-based entree.

* Burger King, 17777 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33157. 1 (800) 937-1800
[If a TTY/TDD line exists for Deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired  
callers, NAVS doesn't list it for this or any other chain].  Possible 
suggestion:  a grain or bean-based entree.

*Domino's Pizza, 30 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, PO Box 997, Ann Arbor, 
MI 48106.  (313) 930-3653 (direct line) or 1-(800) 366-4667.
Possible suggestion:  Crust without whey, milk, eggs or other animal
products.  Tofu as an optional topping.

*Hardee's, 1233 Hardee's Blvd., Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
1-(800) 346-2243, (919(977-2000.  Possible suggestion:  
a grain- or bean-based entree.

* Kentucky Fried Chicken, Col. Sanders Technical Center, 1900
Col. Sanders Lane, Lousville, KY 40213.  1-(800) 544-5774.  Possible
suggestion:  a grain- or bean-based entree.

* Little Caesars, Fox Office Center, 2211 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
48201 (313) 983-6000, 1-(800) 438 4785.  Possible suggestion:  Tofu
as optional topping.

* Long John Silver's, 101 Jerrico Drive Lexington, KY 40579.
1 (800) 342-3669, (606) 263-6375.  Possible suggestions:  a grain or
bean-based entree.

* McDonald's, Campus Office Building, Kroc Drive, Oak Brook IL 60521.
(708) 575-3000.  Possible suggestion:  grain- or bean-based entree.

* Pizza Hut, 9111 East Douglas, PO Box 428, Wichita, KS 67201-0428.
(316) 681-9000.  Possible suggestion:  Pizza sauce without animal 
roducts, incuding cheese.  Tofu as optional pizza topping.

* Taco Bell, 17901 Von Karman, Irvine, CA 92714.  (714) 863-5296.
Possible suggestion:  Bean taco or burrito (with lettuce, tomato, onions) listed
on menu, billed as low fat, no cholesterol.  Burrito tortilla
without milk or other animal products.

*Wendy's 4288 West Dublin Granville road, PO Box 256, Dublin OH 43017.
(800) 243 1846.  Possible suggestion:  grain or bean-based entree.

------------------------

To date in this campaign (launched in 1991):

* Burger King officials "now say they are considering selling their 
Spicy bean Burger in teh United States.  Currently this popular
Kidney-bean based burger is available only in the United Kingdom.
Plans are underway to allow a Burger King franchisee to sell the 
completely vegetarian burger at his outlet at Watkins Glen, NY.

McDonald's Corp is testing two "non-meat" entrees, inclduing pasta
with a meatless marinara sauce.

Wendy's replaced the lard with vegetable oil in its refried beans
and eliminated the meat flavor in its pasta sauce.  Consumers can
now buy an all-plant vegetarian meal at Wendy's, including
baked potato with broccoli from the hot serving line, and fresh
fruit and vegetable salad, pasta, tacos and Spanish rice
from teh SuperSalad bar.

When writing to these resturants, thank them for the steps they have
taken. Encourage Burger King to offer a low-fat version of the
Spicy Bean Burger in North America.  Tell Wendy's you'dl ike them to consider
a meatless chili.  Ask McDonald's to continue testing non-meat
alternatives and to consider making a cheese-free sauce and milk-free 
for the pizza recipe teh company has been working on for several years."

Note:  PERSONALLY written letters always have more impact than
signatures on a petition form.  However, you CAN collect signatures
and send them in to the North American Vegetarian Society, Box
72,
Dolgeville NY 13329.  contact NAVS for copies of their petition form,
which contains the following text:

        VEGETARIAN EXPRESS Fast Food Campaign 
             Petition form

We, the undersigned, encourage fast-food restaurants to offer and
advertise all-plant vegetarian entrees on their menus, because 
such food choices are better for health, animals and the environment.
We believe there is a growing consumer demand for fast-food fare
that is low-fat, no-cholesterol, meat-free, fish-free, dairy-free
and low sodium with either minaml or no preservatives.  We specifically
ask the following restaurants to consider our request:  _Arby's,
Burger king, Domino's Pizza, Hardee's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Little
Caesars, Long John Silver's, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell
and Wendy's_.

[space is left here for signatures, along with addresses; the address
of NAVS is at the bottom of the form]

Whatever you do, good luck in your work.  By working together, we
can make fast food restaurants a friendlier place for vegetarians to be.

Once again, for more information on this campaign, contact NAVS
at Box 72, Dolgeville NY 13329.
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg