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McDonald's menu options - Source: ONE News -
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Fast food giant McDonald's has come under fire over their partnership with weight loss management company Weight Watchers.
Under Weight Watchers' deal with the fast food chain, it endorses three meals that each added up to 6.5 Weight Watchers' points - the Fillet of Fish, Chicken McNuggets and the sweet chilli seared chicken wrap.
Salads and water or diet soft drinks are served with the meals.
The Weight Watchers' system allows people to consumer between 18 and 40 points each day, and clients must stay within the limit to obtain and retain their goal weight.
McDonald's approached Weight Watchers with the idea, with Weight Watchers getting an undisclosed payment in return for the endorsement.
Weight Watchers' business director Chris Stirk says the deal is all about offering a healthier choice when people are eating out.
But critics are unconvinced, saying it will lure people into McDonald's stores where they are likely to eat high-fat options anyway.
"McDonalds is simply going to widen its consumer base so people who previously wouldn't go into McDonalds may now feel this is an option," says Fight the Obesity Epidemic spokeswoman Robyn Toomath.
Toomath wants to see New Zealanders consume less of the high energy, low nutrient value foods - the kind of food they currently get from McDonalds.
"McDonalds and Weight Watchers may well say it's not a marketing ploy, and they may even desperately wish that people would go in there and choose healthier foods, but the question is - will they do that?"
