Ronald McDonald
Ronald McDonald is the symbol of McDonalds restaurants and also a symbol of how the corporation wants the consumer to feel about the company. He is a big, smiley clown who instills a feeling of happiness and enjoyment; how could a clown be a threat to a family or a child? For this reason he is symbolic not only of the company but of the positive image they want the customer to have of their product.
Ronald McDonald's Sweatsuit
McDonald's decided to dress Ronald McDonald in a sporty sweatsuit shortly after the movie was released. This new costume is a symbol of healthfulness and a healthy lifestyle and also symbolizes the company's desire for the consumer to view their restaurants as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Happy Meal symbol
One of the best selling menu items for kids in a McDonald's restaurant is the Happy Meal, which comes with a toy each time a meal is purchased. The Happy Meal is a symbol of a happy child: a symbol of the joy you can bring to your child just by taking them to a fast food restaurant, a seemingly simple act that can reap huge reward. This is also another symbol of the corporation's desire to portray eating fast food as a happy and positive experience.
Supersize Meals
A supersize Meal is offered at every restaurant and basically increases the size of the meal purchased. The supersize Meal is a symbol of the supersize consumer and the epidemic of obesity thematic the movie.
Declining Health
Spurlock's declining health is a symbol of the devastating effect the fast food is having on him, his weight and his natural functioning. It is also a symbol of the cumulative effects of too much fast food as the more he eats the more his health declines.
