NEW YORK, Sept 27 — McDonald’s Corp, seller of the 750-calorie Double Quarter Pounder with cheese, will start offering healthier options instead of fries with value meals.
The world’s largest restaurant chain will allow customers to choose from fruit, salads and vegetables as a side dish, according to a joint statement today from the company and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a group working to reduce childhood obesity founded by the Clinton Foundation and American Heart Association. The statement did not specify the type of vegetables available.
As a part of its commitment, McDonald’s also will only advertise water, milk and juice for its kids’ Happy Meals. The changes are being made in 20 markets globally including the US, Australia, Germany, France, China and the U.K. The changes will start within three years and will be effective in all 20 markets by 2020.
McDonald’s, along with its competitors, has been trying to shed its image as a purveyor of fatty foods. The Oak Brook, Illinois-based fast-food chain in 2012 introduced a Favourites Under 400 Calories menu and this year started selling egg-white sandwiches.
Burger King Worldwide Inc. earlier this week added reduced-fat, reduced-calorie French fries to its menu.
McDonald’s rose 0.6 per cent to US$98.19 (RM316) at 5pm in New York. The shares have gained 11 per cent this year, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has advanced 19 per cent. — Bloomberg
