By Julie Deardorff,Chicago Tribune

The “McDonaldization” of America continued unabated last week after Chicago officials announced the Millennium Park Bike Station has gone the way of old Comiskey Park. It will now be called The McDonald’s Cycle Center.

It could have been worse. It could have been the “Hooters Bike Station.” And McDonald’s did kick in a $5 million grant to the park, which will help support the bike station’s operational and maintenance costs for the next 50 years.

But there’s something insidious about McDonald’s recent alignment with health-related activities. Essentially, it’s funding what it calls “active lifestyle programs” in schools and public spaces, activities we desperately need to counteract the damage caused by the high-sodium, trans-fatty foods it serves.

When McDonald’s realized that most rational people want fast food out of schools, the fast-food giant slipped in through the back door. Last year it underscored its commitment to “balanced, active lifestyles” by kicking off Passport to Play, an in-school program designed to improve grade-school physical-education programs.

Launched in 31,000 schools across the country, the program features world fitness ambassador Ronald McDonald, who teaches children about games and physical activities from other cultures. Is there a better way to build your brand than to expose 3rd, 4th and 5th graders to Ronald McDonald during the school day?

Meanwhile, over at Chicago’s Millennium Park, after you rent or park your bike at the McDonald’s Cycle Center, you can enjoy a workout, presented by McDonald’s, on the Great Lawn.

If that’s not up your alley, sign up your youngster for the McDonald’s Kids Triathlon (the country’s largest triathlon for kids). Or try the McDonald’s L.A.T.E. Ride, a 25-mile bicycle ride for Friends of the Parks.

McDonald’s has to be part of the solution if we are going to make major societal health changes.

The company should be lauded for its “active lifestyle initiatives.” The Passport to Play curriculum was developed by educators and is supported by the United States Olympic Committee and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

But if McDonald’s is serious about improving the health of its customers, it could do much more to prevent health problems in the first place. Instead of throwing so much money on part of the equation – physical activity – it could do what it promised to do several years ago: Get the trans fats out of the food.

Trans fats, which can be identified by the words “partially hydrogenated” on ingredient lists, raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Just 5 grams a day can increase the risk of heart disease 25 percent.

McDonald’s voluntarily promised in September 2002 to cut trans-fat levels by replacing its partially hydrogenated oil. But the oil was never changed – and customers were not adequately notified – because of operational issues. Last year McDonald’s settled a lawsuit by BanTransFats.com and agreed to donate $7 million to the American Heart Association to help educate the public on trans fats and encourage the food industry to stop using partially hydrogenated oils.

But while Wendy’s recently announced it will switch to non-hydrogenated cooking oil for its french fries and breaded chicken items by August, the industry leader hasn’t.

In fact, earlier this year, tests revealed that McDonald’s french fries contain higher levels of trans fats than previously announced. One large serving contains 8 grams of trans fats, one-third more than McDonald’s claimed. (The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommended limiting trans fats to about 2 grams per day).

Meanwhile, the levels of trans fats are higher at McDonald’s in the U.S. than they are in some other countries, indicating that they certainly could be lowered here at home. And while McDonald’s Web site promises nutritional information, typing “trans fats” in the search engine results in zero hits.

It’s encouraging that McDonald’s is offering some healthier foods, but most menu items contain too much sodium. The ketchup and Big Mac sauce have high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener linked to obesity. And trans fats are lurking in dozens of popular offerings, including burger buns, the Crispy Chicken Breast Filet, the Filet-O-Fish, french fries and Chicken McNuggets. McDonald’s seems to be forgetting its own ad campaign. It’s not just what you do. It’s what you eat.