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A CURTIN University dietitian has slammed a move by McDonald’s to start an online home delivery service in the Pilbara town of Karratha.
McDonald’s has partnered with online restaurant takeaway service Menulog to offer home delivery for orders of more than $25 in Karratha, following the success of a nine-month trial at a North Parramatta store.
The manager of the Karratha store confirmed the home-delivery service would begin in the town on Thursday afternoon through Menulog.
Curtin University school of public health dietitian Christina Pollard said the move to increase the convenience of McDonald’s would make healthy eating harder to achieve, especially in a remote town like Karratha.
“I know it's convenient to have meals home delivered, but we really need to look at the types of meals that are being encouraged," Dr Pollard said.
"These foods are energy dense and nutrient poor...if the minimum cost is $25, that's two large meal deals and for your average adult that's your entire day's energy requirements in one purchase.
“It's not going to fill people up, it's not nutritious and it's not healthy.
"In places like Karratha nutritious foods are more expensive.
“It really is difficult to eat and prepare and get access to a nutritious diet and this is another impediment."
Dr Pollard also said fast food was increasingly appealing to the hip pocket in an effort to be more palatable.
"These companies are using value for money as a marketing tool," she said.
"You can get a whole meal for a family for under $20. So they look appealing, but they're really not value for health, which the need people to look at."
McDonald’s Australia, Menulog and the Pilbara Health Network have been contacted for comment.
There is no indication the home-delivery option will be offered in the metropolitan area.
Red Rooster is also trialling a home delivery service through Menulog in one Sydney store, however a spokesman for the chicken chain said the company had no plans to extend the trial past that Parramatta location.