The NY Daily News reported that soft drinks will no longer appear on kids’ meal menus at Wendy’s. The push for the removal of soda from the children’s menu came from three groups: MomsRising.org, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
These groups cited research from the journal Lancet noting that one sugary drink a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60 percent.
CSPI senior nutrition policy counsel Jessica Almy noted that although parents carry the responsibility for providing good nutrition to their children, “restaurants should not be setting parents up for a fight by bundling soda with meal options designed for kids.” She also noted, “Wendy’s is taking a responsible step forward that will improve children’s health and make it easier for parents to make healthy choices for their children.”
A parent can still order a soda for a child but that option will no longer appear on kids’ meal menus in the restaurant, at the drive-through, or on the Wendy’s app. Instead the menus will highlight other options: 1% milk, bottled water, and 100% juice.
McDonald’s removed soda from its Happy Meal menu in 2013, in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Burger King, which still includes soda on its kids’ meal menus, is considering eliminating fountain drinks from their kids’ menu boards as well.
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