It’s a great feeling to know the dollar in your pocket can buy a variety of things from the McDonald’s Dollar Menu. Whether it is an apple pie or a plain cheeseburger, McDonald’s has your back when it comes to cheap food. They may not have your best interests in mind, though, when it comes to health.

“I eat at McDonald’s more often now because it’s easy on the wallet, fast and it tastes good,” said Daniel Kohlin, freshman accounting major. “What is there not to like?”

Although McDonald’s is giving a lending hand to those who are in low-income situations, it’s no secret the health cost from this consumption will be greater than just a dollar. A 2006 New York Times article said McDonald’s is marketing the Dollar Menu to teenagers, young adults and minorities who are already plagued with an especially high incidence of obesity and related health problems like diabetes.

“I always thought of the Dollar Menu as a really good deal,” said John Han, freshman economics major. “Now I realize it may be a deal for a fast bite, but it’s not a deal for my health.”

McDonald’s Dollar Menu is targeting low-income consumers and minorities; and by picking from the poor man’s pocket it grows financially.

“While it seems shocking or cruel that a corporation such as McDonald’s would intentionally market its unhealthy food to low-income people and minorities, this marketing decision seems to support long-standing structured inequalities between these groups and white to upper-class Americans,” said sociology instructor Justin Hoy.

Consumers hoped McDonald’s wouldn’t become so minority-driven, but sadly, it has. Now, the exclusive marketing campaigns are paying off for the corporation.

“Sociological research shows that time and time again, low-income people and minorities have been made invisible through things like residential segregation where they have limited access to healthcare, well-funded schools and stores/restaurants that carry healthy foods,” Hoy said. “If not earning a living wage wasn’t enough, not having access to these institutions is a major obstacle to good health.”

It’s disheartening that, in this economy, fast food restaurants will do whatever they can to turn a profit.

“Corporations like McDonald’s jump on the opportunity to move into these segregated and impoverished neighborhoods because they can target low-income populations with cheap, hot food without the risk of competition from other stores or restaurants,” Hoy said. “As a result, health in these areas may suffer because of increased consumption of fast foods for lack of other, healthier foods.”

By marketing to specific groups and doing whatever it takes to make money, another major corporation showed its customers that, in the end, the only thing that counts is your money, not your loyalty.