McDonald’s announced Thursday that it will no longer promote soda as a component of its Happy Meal.
According to NPR , the fast-food giant had made a commitment to stop marketing sodas as a beverage option for children.
McDonald’s stated in a press release that it is partnering with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the Clinton Foundation and American Heart Association, to “increase customers’ access to fruit and vegetables and help families and children to make informed choices in keeping with balanced lifestyles.”
“This commitment reflects McDonald’s progress regarding nutrition and well-being,” said Don Thompson, President and CEO of McDonald’s.
“Our partnership with the Clinton Foundation and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is another important step in our journey.
“And we know there’s more to do. We will continue to use our size and scale around the world to help educate, empower and encourage our customers to make informed choices so they can live a balanced and healthy lifestyle.”
According to the press release, the commitment includes the following related to the promotion and advertising of Happy Meals:
- Promote and market only water, milk, and juice as the beverage in Happy Meals on menu boards and in-store and external advertising
- Utilize Happy Meal and other packaging innovations and designs to generate excitement for fruit, vegetable, low/reduced-fat dairy, or water options for kids
- Dedicate Happy Meal box or bag panels to communicate a fun nutrition or children’s well-being message
- Ensure 100 percent of all advertising directed to children to include a fun nutrition or children’s well-being message
According to MSN Now , ads for children’s Happy Meals will no longer feature a soda with the meals, but instead will feature water or milk.
Parent’s still have the option of swapping out the milk or water for a soda with a McDonald’s Happy Meal.
