After running afoul of the Agency of Agriculture’s strict marketing regulations, McDonald’s has agreed to offer pure Vermont maple syrup for the “Fruit and Maple Oatmeal” on the franchise’s breakfast menu.
Turns out MickeyD’s oatmeal isn’t flavored with “maple” at all, but the pulverized bark of a “bush remotely related to maple tree,” Gov. Peter Shumlin told reporters this morning.
The settlement applies to Vermont franchises only, though Shumlin said he intends to push McDonald’s to use some of this state’s signature agriculture product in restaurants nationwide.
It’s unclear exactly how much syrup the franchise will buy, or what sort of windfall it might bring to Vermont sugarers. Shumlin also didn’t know if customers will be charged a premium for the amber gold.
The news comes as Shumlin pushes a health-care reform bill aimed at lowering medical costs in the state. Asked if he wants Vermonters to start frequenting the Golden Arches, he said “if they have Vermont maple syrup in their product, I would certainly hope more people go there, at the expense of other fast-food restaurants.”
Besides, Shumlin said, maple syrup is good for you.
“There’s a health benefit to this,” he said. “Maple syrup is a much healthier product for Vermonters and Americans than is raw sugar. So there a lot of reasons this makes sense.”
The syrup will be available in Vermont franchises beginning Feb. 1. Shumlin said he’ll be there to partake.
“I will go to McDonald’s on Feb. 1 and have oatmeal,” Shumlin said, “if I can get an extra heaping of maple syrup.”
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