Burger King Corp. says it will cut the amount of sodium in its kids meals and will begin promoting menu combinations with less than 650 calories as part of a push to emphasize nutrition in its restaurants. The company said it will now limit sodium in its kids meals advertised to children under 12 years old to 600 milligrams or less.
“We have made a strong company-wide commitment to improve childhood nutrition,” said Chief Executive John Chidsey in an Associated Press interview. He calls the sodium limit “a positive step among many in that direction.”
The American Heart Association recommends a daily intake of no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium in healthy adults and less for children.
Burger King Corp. also says it will make sure its kids meals provide a “good” or “excellent” source of at least two of several nutrients like calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium or vitamin E. The restaurant’s current kids meals features Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, apple slices cut to look like French fries with a low-fat caramel dipping sauce and low-fat milk. That meal has 340 calories and 505 milligrams of sodium and meets the nutrient requirements.
The company says other kids meals meeting its new nutrition guidelines are in development.
