Burger King Corp, the world’s No. 2 hamburger chain, will limit sodium in its “Kids Meals” in what it called the first step by a fast-food by a restaurant chain to address this particular health concern.
The move from the Miami-based company comes as local and state lawmakers slap more rules on eateries, ranging from banning artery-choking trans fat to requiring calorie counts on restaurant menus.
McDonald’s was not immediately available for comment.
Burger King said on Wednesday it will limit sodium to 600 milligrams or less in all of its Kids Meals advertised to children younger than 12.
“We are proud to be the first quick-service restaurant to publicly commit to limiting sodium in Kids Meals,” Burger King Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Chidsey said in a statement.
Burger King, which was among the last major fast-food purveyors to eliminate trans fat from its food, has been criticized for not putting enough focus on health and nutrition.
“They have some of the fattiest, saltiest foods out there. It’s refreshing that Burger King is thinking along the lines of improving nutrition,” said Michael Jacobson, executive director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Read on…