As local residents and proud owner-operators of McDonald’s restaurants in the

Bangor area, we want to provide your readers with some of the facts behind McDonald’s nutrition labeling announcement, which was recently the subject of a very disappointing and misinformed editorial cartoon in your newspaper.

The cartoon (BDN, Nov. 4) implied that McDonald’s is doing harm by providing nutrition information on product packaging – information about calories, fat, protein, sodium, etc. In fact, we talked to customers in tests and they told us they appreciated our new format. They liked getting the nutrition facts they needed quickly and simply. Most of all, our new icons and bar graphs clearly show the options and quality of our menu, as well as all the choices and variety we offer that easily fit into balanced diets.

Here in the Bangor area, we enthusiastically support the company’s decision to include nutrition information on packaging. We have provided nutrition information on our menu for 30 years and we are extremely proud of our menu and take great pride in serving our customers wholesome food, made from quality ingredients. We are pleased that our valued customers will be able to access easy-to-understand “Nutrition Facts” on their favorite McDonald’s menu items every time they visit one of our restaurants.

In fact, Maine was a test market for this initiative, and several restaurants in Maine have been offering nutrition information on packaging for several months.

By providing this nutrition information on packaging, McDonald’s is continuing its commitment to encourage our valued customers to lead balanced, active lifestyles through physical activity and food choice. With input from our customers in recent years, McDonald’s has expanded its menu to include a wide variety of menu choices, including Premium Salads and fresh fruit. We also offer options such as Apple Dippers and low-fat milk for our youngest customers. We welcome these products into our restaurants, and we hear first-hand from our customers that they are appreciated.

Because all of the 62 McDonald’s restaurants in Maine are locally owned and operated, we listen closely to our customers, and we want what is best for our communities in Maine. That is why we give back so much to our communities each year, and why, for example, we contribute to the local economy by using only Maine-grown and processed potatoes for french fries and hash browns.

As local owner-operators in the Bangor area, we know that the news of nutritional information on packaging is welcome news to our valued customers, and all of our friends

and neighbors in the state.

This commentary was signed by Gary Eckmann (McDonald’s owner-operator in Bangor, Brewer and Dover-Foxcroft); Linda and Doug Quagliaroli (McDonald’s owner-operator in Belfast, Ellsworth, Old Town, Bucksport and Machias); Ed Degenhardt(McDonald’s owner-operator in Calais, Millinocket, Houlton and Lincoln); Bob and Mike Ortins (McDonald’s owner-operator in Augusta, Skowhegan, Waterville,

Newport, Winslow, Augusta, Farmington and Jay); and Heidi Abbotoni (McDonald’s owner-operator in Caribou and Presque Isle).