Editorial: Abbott Northwestern Hospital commendably discharges Ronald McDonald

[Star Tribune, December 07, 2015] Visitors and patients for years have noted and even cracked uneasy jokes about the McDonald’s restaurant located at the heart of Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s sprawling campus in Minneapolis.

Yes, it’s been a handy option for family and friends needing a quick bite while a loved one is recovering. Or for hardworking staff on their lunch breaks. At the same time, the fast-food behemoth’s bevy of deep-fried, high-calorie offerings has been jarringly at odds with Abbott’s mission. Food sold within a medical center should complement health, not directly contradict the dietary advice many hospitalized patients are given.

So it’s entirely appropriate that Allina Health, Abbott’s parent organization, last week announced that it is discharging this McDonald’s after a 25-year-old business relationship.

Read the full editorial at startribune.com.