Fight Over McDonald's Takes to Airways

Tonight’s “Nightline” will profile the Loma Linda’s fight over the city’s first McDonald’s restaurant.

The issue has been a source of much resentment from members of the medical profession. About 50 people, a majority of them a part of Loma Linda’s large medical community, have protested the proposed restaurant as it has worked its way through the different committees to the City Council.

The issue has attracted national attention because Loma Linda is the only Blue Zone in the country and one of only five in the world. ABC's "Nightline" speaks to a physician and to Pastor Randy Roberts of the Loma Linda University Church on the topic.

Over the course of several meetings, protestors have told council members that welcoming a McDonald’s will tarnish the city’s reputation, as the eatery has become a symbol of obesity and poor nutrition. Some feared it could even lead the city to losing the Blue Zone designation.

The council has countered that they did not approve a McDonald’s, but a commercial center that will bring needed revenue to the city.

The Blue Zone designation is a huge deal for this city of medical professionals. Loma Linda is home to Loma Linda University Medical Center, known for its groundbreaking research in several fields.

The hospital was home to Baby Fae, or Stephanie Fae Beauclair, born with a fatal heart defect. Surgeon, Dr. Leonard Bailey, MD, treated the infant by transplanting a baboon heart into her in 1987. Though the child did not survive, it was historic surgery and helped pave the way to infant-to-infant transplantation at the hospital.

In 2004, author Dan Buettner partnered with National Geographic to identify the Blue Zones about five years ago. Researchers found pockets around the world where people lived healthier lives and reached age 100 at rates 10 times greater than most areas of the United States, according to Blue Zone officials.

Loma Linda was one of them.

Despite theat the the commercial development that would house the proposed McDonald’s was approved in December, some seven people addressed Loma Linda’s City Council on Jan. 10, stretching the normally brief public comment time to an hour.

Dr. Sylvie Wellhausen, a clinical nutritionist in Loma Linda and among the most vocal against McDonald’s, told the council residents needed access to healthier food and said the argument that people have the right to choose what they want to eat was a flimsy reason to bring in McDonald’s.

“Freedom of choice is different than the freedom of unknowingly harming ourselves,” Wellhausen said. “(Freedom) comes with the knowledge that you are informed about what you are doing to yourself. At least cigarettes are labeled. Fast food is not labled.”

McDonald’s issued a written response to ABC News. It follows:

"McDonald's wants to be a good neighbor in the communities we serve. We have been working hard over the past several years to ensure we have options on our menu to meet a variety of dietary needs. For example, our line of Premium Salads can be ordered without meat. We also have other offerings including Apple Slices, Oatmeal and Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits as well as a variety of portion sizes.

"The City of Loma Linda approved this development for several uses, including the McDonald's restaurant. McDonald's and our franchisee look forward to working with the Loma Linda City Council and residents to hopefully address any questions or concerns. We believe the new restaurant will support the Loma Linda community with a contemporary dining experience and help fuel economic growth."