Wendy’s Removes Soda From Children’s Menus

Wendy’s will remove soda as an option from children’s meal menus. The fast food chain joined others who have caved to children’s health advocacy groups on Thursday.

McDonald’s made a similar move in 2013 to remove soda from Happy Meals, a policy that goes into effect this year. The chain partnered with Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an organization aimed at fighting childhood obesity.

Though parents won’t see soda on the menu board for kids, they can still order one if they want to. Children’s health advocates maintain parents have a responsibility to feed their children well. However, the advocates argue that by taking it off the menu board, parents won’t be set up for a fight with children because soda is a bundled with the meal design.

When the Center for Science and Public interest released its statement that Wendy’s will remove soda from children’s menu, the statement said it hoped Wendy’s will offer other healthier choices. Some of those options include “whole grain rolls, offering more fruit and vegetable options, reducing sodium across the menu, and dropping Frostys from the children’s menu.”

Bob Bertini, a spokesperson for Wendy’s, noted that soda was never the default drink at Wendy’s. “When ordering a kids’ meal, the customer is asked what beverage they prefer. The change is the kids’ meal beverage options which are shown on our menu boards.”

Bertini also said Wendy’s began displaying healthier beverage options, such as 1% white or chocolate milk, bottled water, and 100% juice last fall.

Even with the changes of Wendy’s and McDonald’s, soda is still one of the most profitable items for fast food chains. Jesse Bragg, media director for Corporate Accountability International, said nothing will be solved until marketing practices to entice kids to eat fast food is reduced.

Groups such as MomsRising.org and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility argue that soda isn’t a good drink for children. Not only does soda have health problems on its own, sugary drinks in general increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and tooth decay.

Wendy’s removing soda from children’s menus is a win for children’s health advocates, but Burger King still remains as a chain that displays it. However, Burger King is “currently in the process of analyzing the removal of fountain drinks from our kids’ menu boards.”

[Photo Credit: ttarasiuk]

Wendy’s Removes Soda From Children’s Menus