McDonald's Announces More Children's Meal Options

McDONALD'S ANNOUNCES MORE CHILDREN'S MEAL OPTIONS

McDonald's is pleased to announce that from December it will offer new Happy Meals designed to provide greater choice for children and parents.

From 4 December, children's Anchor Mega Milk, apple and blackcurrant juice drink, Pump Mini water and Keri orange juice will be added to Happy Meals. Children's salads have already been introduced, and moves are underway to significantly lower the saturated fat levels in fries.

McDonald's CEO, Al Dunn, says "While these options are all significantly more expensive to produce than existing regular items, McDonald's will nevertheless be making them available at the same low prices.

"The challenge of making wise food choices available to children has been commented on today by the Minister of Health, in releasing the results of the nutrition report 'New Zealand food: New Zealand children." he says.

"The report also highlights that saturated fat intake is higher than ideal."

From the end of November McDonald's is moving to reduce the saturated fat levels of its fries by introducing a new vegetable oil. The first stage covers all restaurants, while the second stage, by May 2004, will see the new vegetable oil introduced into the factories where the fries are produced.

"At that point we will be anticipating industry--leading lowered saturated fat levels -- approximately half the current levels for our fries," says Mr Dunn.

"Meanwhile, it is worth pointing out that the current biggest selling McDonald's Happy Meal of Chicken McNuggets, small fries and a small soft drink already has less fat, fewer calories and less sugar than a peanut butter sandwich, a banana and a glass of milk."

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