In a new advancement in its ongoing evolution in the nutrition field, McDonald’s will provide costumers in Latin America with calorie information for each product on restaurant menu boards. The innovation will enable McDonald’s customers in the region to know the exact calorie content of each item as they place their orders. The rollout of the initiative in Latin America will begin in March 2013 and will be complete in June 2013, in line with the brand’s international standards of transparency.
McDonald’s already offers nutrition information about its products on
in-store tray liners, brochures and on its Web sites. The new introduction is
the result of McDonald’s continuous efforts to make information on the
nutritional profile of its products more accessible.
"Consumers are more and more conscious of the quality and balance of their nutrient intake. We want to be in tune with these needs. Exactly a year ago we made important changes to our products, reducing the sodium, sugar and fat content of our menu and reformulating the Happy Meal to contain less than 600 calories. In 2007, we eliminated added trans fats and introduced salads, yogurt and cereals to our offerings," said Woods Staton, president and CEO of Arcos Dorados, the company responsible for the management of brand McDonald’s in Latin America. "It is important that our customers are well informed as they choose our products, and in this sense making information available on the menu is of great relevance," he said.
By adopting this measure, the chain continues to evolve its communications and incorporates a new, visible and easily accessible channel that will help customers make even more informed decisions.
Ongoing Menu Evolution: In 2011, important menu evolutions were implemented in Latin America:
Sodium
• Average sodium reduction of 10% in buns, McNuggets, cheese and
ketchup.
• In the Happy Meal, the two sandwich options and the McNuggets had
their sodium content reduced by around 10 percent.
Sugar
• Amount of sugar added to juices cut by nearly 40 percent to less than 5g added sugars per 100ml.
Kids’ Menu
• The new Happy Meal composition, with four items, includes a serving
of fresh fruit.
All combinations of McDonald’s children’s menu now have less than 600
calories and provide one-third of the daily energy needs of kids aged 6 to
10.
• The new Happy Meal contains more vitamins and minerals, less sodium, less sugar and fewer calories.
Adults’ Menu
• Adults’ Extra Value Meals have two side options: traditional French
fries or a side salad (under 10 calories).
o The salad side option makes for an average reduction of 20 percent in the EVM total calorie count.
Menu evolution has seen a track record of innovations in Latin America.
Developments of previous years include (some of products listed below have been discontinued from our menu and replaced by new launches):
• First McDonald’s salads, introduced in 1987
• Apples and low-fat yogurt with cereals (Parfait), in 2005
• Cherry tomatoes, corn and carrot sticks as Happy Meal options
different countries, in 2006
• Added trans fats eliminated from the menu in 2007, with the adoption
of new oil blends for fried products. French fries, McNuggets and chicken sandwiches contain no trans fat ever since
• First Wraps, in 2008
• First sugar reduction in juices, in 2009
• Olive oil and balsamic vinegar for salad dressing, in 2009.
Championing Active Lifestyles
• In addition to its commitment to food quality, the company encourages
active lifestyles. A sponsor of the two major global sports events – Olympic
Games and FIFA World Cup – McDonald’s also supports local sports initiation programs and events that promote family integration.
• In Latin America, Arcos Dorados will hold in October the second
edition of M5K – Women Run street races, to be joined by more than 60,000 women in 18 cities across 15 Latin American countries.
