The results would be more convincing if the same foods were also given with no label in pairs. If the children still had a preference it would throw off the findings. Maybe right handed children prefer the burger on the right. It just does not seem very thorough or scientific in its methods or findings.

63 children in a Head Start program tested by an obesity expert with his own agenda.

Brand loyalty is one of the primary goals of advertising. It works on adults. It would surprise me if it did not work on children. Fighting that loyalty was what the Pepsi Challenge was all about. In essence they were saying that the color of the can is making you think it tastes better but take a blind test and see which you prefer.

I have a hard time with the notion that fast food is the cause of rising obesity in our culture. Fast food is a symptom. Why do people want or need to eat on the run? Two working parents caused by outrageous basic food, health and shelter costs? A society based on sitting in front of a computer or TV for most or all of its entertainment? MacDonald's fills a need and does it well - it is a corporation whose responsibility is to produce profits legally. Consumers choose to eat there rather than at the local salad bar. If it offers only the salad bar, it goes out of business.