McDonald's Denver Restaurants Team With Colorado Health Department to Encourage Healthier Eating

March 26, 2007

More than 100 metro-area McDonald's restaurants are teaming with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to encourage customers to eat healthier.

In a pilot program to be unveiled today, roughly 110 local McDonald's restaurants will begin promoting 11 meal combinations that meet the nutritional standards set by the state's Smart Meal program.

"The key is to educate Colorado consumers, and what a great way to do it through us because we reach so many people," said Tom Carlson, who owns three Denver McDonald's.

The fast-food chain serves more than 205,000 customers a day in Colorado.

To warrant a Smart Meal seal, each menu pairing must contain no more than 700 calories, with less than 15 percent of calories coming from saturated fat. It must also have fewer than 1,500 milligrams of sodium and a minimum of two servings of beans or whole grains, fruits or vegetables.

Smart Meal offerings will include a hamburger paired with a fruit-and-yogurt parfait and apple dippers or a McDonald's Asian Salad with grilled chicken.

"We're hoping McDonald's will be a role model for other businesses to offer smarter choices and healthier foods," said Denver Public Health director Chris Urbina.

Participating restaurants will begin promoting the meals in June with a special logo and in-store kiosks where consumers can access nutritional information.

Carlson declined to say how mu ch it would cost to implement the program.

 "It's important in today's climate that we continue to try and be relevant to our customers," he said.

Industry analysts said they wouldn't be surprised to see the program duplicated nationally.

"McDonald's is reasonably well-known for being first to the plate on these consumer trends," said Kevin Moll, president of Denver's National Food Service Advisors Inc. "I think this program will really take off."

The public-health department launched the Smart Meals program in 2005. Nineteen restaurants statewide participate in the program.

In 2005, 54.4 percent of Coloradans were obese or overweight, according to the public-health department.

"The reality of American life is that many people eat at fast- food restaurants," said Dr. Jillian Jacobellis, the department's director of prevention services. "We want to take this opportunity to see that given choices and education, will they choose healthier meals?"

Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-954-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.

BY THE NUMBERS

700 - Maximum calories in 11 meals to be offered by about 110 area McDonald's, less than 15 percent of those coming from saturated fat

1,499 - Maximum milligrams of sodium in each meal

2 - Minimum servings of beans or whole grains, fruits or vegetables in each meal

Sort by Category:

• Most Recent
• Our Values
• Sustainable Supply Chain
• Nutrition and Well-Being
• Environmental Responsibility
• Employment Experience
• Community