Report: Fast-food chains slow to change fare
Sodas still being offered in kids’ meals
In 2013, amid warnings of a national child obesity epidemic and calls to improve children’s food options, some of America’s most popular fast-food restaurants promised healthier drinks and sides for kids.
Have they followed through with those promises?
Sort of, according to a report released Thursday by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut.
McDonald’s promised in 2013 to remove soda advertising directed at children, feature only water, milk and juice as drink options on its Happy Meal menu boards and add healthy options to the Happy Meal. That same year, KFC introduced the Li’l Bucket Kids Meal, which came with green beans, applesauce and flavored water. In 2014, Subway said it would offer only items that met strong nutritional guidelines on its kids’ menu.
Burger King, Wendy’s and Dairy Queen made similar pledges to promote and offer healthier children’s drinks.
Here’s the good news: In 2016, none of the chains’ websites listed sugary soda and other soft drinks on the kids’ menu. Online, they all added at least one health- ier drink, such as juice, water or low-fat milk, and at least one healthier side dish, such as fresh fruit or yogurt.
“At least now there is an option to get something that’s lower in sugar and calories for your child than you could before,” said Jennifer Harris, lead author of the study and director of Marketing Initiatives at the Rudd Center.
Changes in the online menus did not always translate to real life. Harris’ team had “mystery shoppers” from an independent market research firm visit the chains’ restaurants. They found one-third or more continued to list soda and other sugary drinks on their kids’ menu boards. They found staff continued to offer soft drinks and soda with kids’ meal orders.
Only 8% of restaurant staff at Burger King and 22% at Wendy’s offered healthier sides with their kids’ meals, though those chains committed only to offering healthier drinks, not side options. McDonald’s did better: 100% of staff offered healthier options, but since its kids’ meal comes with two sides, a side of fries was usually automatically included.
“They have added the healthier options ... but they are not really encouraging parents to purchase those options when they’re in the restaurants,” Harris said.
In a statement, McDonald’s said an independent verification firm certified the restaurant complied with its health commitment.
Wendy’s and Subway noted healthy options they offer.
It’s important for parents to encourage kids’ healthy eating, said Rebecca Seguin, an associate professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology. “If we want to get them used to eating foods that are not very sugary, highly salty and processed, we need to start early.”