What do fast-food CEOs eat?
The boss of Yum Brands says his restaurants do carry healthful menu items. He even eats at his company's locations several times a week.
David Novak does. He's the chairman and CEO of Yum Brands (YUM), which operates KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. In the following video interview on CNBC, he says he eats his company's food four to five times a week.
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Novak says he likes KFC's Kentucky Grilled Chicken, which the company says has about 220 calories per breast, and 90 calories per drumstick. He also likes the Fresco chicken soft tacos from Taco Bell, which the company says come to about 150 calories each.
And then on Friday and Saturday nights, he says, he pigs out with his pizza and KFC. "You can eat whatever you want, as long as you're not eating whatever you want all the time," he added.
He defended his company against criticism that fast-food chains are making America fat. The real problem is a lack of exercise and scrounging around the kitchen for high-calorie snacks late at night, he said.
People are "looking for somebody to blame for the lack of accountability that you need to take as a person," he added. Fast food amounts to only about 5% of America's total diet, he added. People need to be responsible for their own health.
Novak was asked about his company's efforts to accept food stamps at its U.S. restaurants. Yum Brands eventually had to call off the plan because of opposition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bloomberg reported. Novak said he thought his company's food should be accessible to everybody who wants to eat it.
But controversy in the U.S. is just a tiny part of Novak's focus. About 75% of the company's profits come from outside the U.S., and Yum has been quickly expanding in China, India and Africa.
The company's international strategy is winning high praise from investors. Yum's share price has soared nearly 21% in the past year.
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Okay, what do those people, who ended up obese fat for eating junk food? Of course you end up fat, if you're whole diet is based on junk food that contains nothing but fat and empty calories', but that's not all, they probably not only eat junk food day after day, but also does nothing but sits at home by a computer or a TV, but never goes out for a run or something. They probably also thought good digestion would save them from it, but this is not true.
And how dare they blame others for their obese fatness? No one pulled a gun on their head and forced them to their unhealthy ways, they did it on their own. Enough said.
Jeremy 12341,
While I agree with you that using food stamps at a restaraunt would be a poor choice, who the heck are you to tell others what they should or should not do with their possesions? That specific decision about use of food stamps belongs to USDA and the issuing states.
Second, I can guarantee you that no family receives $600 in food stamps.
And finally, 99% of welfare recipients don't live that life of luxury you alluded to. We scrape by on very little, and would be so much better off with a part-time minimum wage job. But the reality is that can't physically happen for so many folks. If you work your butt off, Jeremy, hats off to you. So many of us would trade with you if we could.
I understand a family of 4 both parents working crap jobs in this economy may need food assistance for a short period until they can move up in the company or get a better job-- they maybe going to school or doing an internship whatever. But that doesn't give them a ticket to be pigs and eat out all the time everywhere. It is not fair for the rest of us. And my biggest beef, it inflates the price of items. Like pop. If people couldn't buy pop with these cards, which most states allows it, I doubt the price for pop 6 pack would be 4.50 for a 24 ounce. It'd be closer to what it was in 2000 like 1.99 or actually 2.50-3.00 (because its up from 12 ounce pops to 24 ounce-- main ingredient is just carbonized water).
Anyway, I personally think food stamps, people should only be allowed purchase of whole foods and ingredients. No deserts, pop, candy, dessert pastries, TV Dinners, etc. That can be paid for by their money as it is with everyone else has to do for all their food. Want to eat. Sure eat food, not junk at our expense. Next time States come up against a budget mess which most are still, that's what they can cut out, limit items what these folks can buy as it will stretch the amount of food they get which will allow for smaller amount of money per month given.
And jobs need to start paying enough for workers to live off of. This slashing low level wages to near minimum wage or at minimum wage is forcing these people to get food stamps.
This economy needs to learn lessons from the early 1900's like Henry Ford. If you lose demand you lose business. Increase demand by increasing pay.
Rant over.
I like KFC original recipe, or Church's with Louisiana hot sauce all over it. But, I may only eat it once per month. Taco Bell once per week, maybe. Usually take my lunch, or eat somewhere like Chili's or Red Lobster as a business lunch.
But, if I were the McDonald's CEO I wouldn't eat in my restaurants either. Smash Burger, or Carl's Jr. is much better.
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