Schwarzenegger applauds QSRs for promoting healthful choices

Nation's Restaurant News, Oct 24, 2005 by Brooke Barrier

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- A handful of quick-service restaurants came in at the top of the class for encouraging healthy lifestyles and kicking off new health-oriented initiatives at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pioneering Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity, held recently here.

Along with about 25 other businesses and health-related organizations, El Pollo Loco, Subway, McDonald's and 7-Eleven made Schwarzenegger's Summit Honor Roll by dedicating their companies to helping the governor reach his goal of making California a healthy state. The Governor's Vision for California--10 Steps for Healthy Living, which debuted at the summit, promotes healthy eating, physical activity, community and school involvement, and discourages marketing of unhealthful foods to kids.

"California is facing an obesity epidemic that the governor feels very strongly about as a public health issue," said Julie Soderlund, deputy press secretary for the governor's office. "The governor believes that everyone plays a significant role in confronting the epidemic. There are many creative ways restaurants and other businesses can help in offering healthful options to consumers and putting out materials to encourage consumers to eat more healthfully."

"I think [the summit] is going to energize the community," said Mark Hardison, director of retail marketing for El Pollo Loco. "Especially in the restaurant industry, it will help elevate awareness and show the need for providing healthy options to consumers as demand for them increases."

During the summit, the four quick-service companies announced several national and statewide initiatives promoting health and nutrition. El Pollo Loco, which was recently purchased by the New York-based private equity firm Trimaran Capital Partners, unveiled its new low-fat, low-calorie chicken tortilla soup, a commitment to serve trans-fat-free tortillas, and the application of new tools to disclose the nutritional value of menu items.

The tortilla soup--made with shredded white-meat chicken, spicy broth, carrots and celery--is prepared in the restaurant, Hardison said. The menu item comes in a 10-ounce size for $2.49 and a family size for $5.29. Both portions come with separately packaged fresh cilantro, cotija cheese crumbles and multicolor crispy tortilla strips.

In addition, the Irvine, Calif.-based chain plans to switch to trans-fat-free tortillas in the beginning of 2006 at its 328 company-owned and franchised restaurants. The company also plans to introduce new communication tools, including a tray liner that will highlight menu items that meet high nutrition standards, and other merchandising efforts, Hardison said.

Subway, long known for its commitment to promoting health, also implemented a new menu initiative in its more than 1,700 California units. The chain worked with its staff nutritionist to develop the Fit Meal, which consists of a submarine sandwich--a 4-inch sandwich for kids and a 6-inch one for adults--low-fat milk and apples or raisins. Fit Meals are built on healthy portion sizes and are low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in vitamins, according to the company.

Subway has been working on nutritional guidelines with the American Heart Association for some time, said Michelle Cordial, director of brand management for the chain. "We're building them for California, but that doesn't mean we won't ever roll them out nationwide," she said.

But Cordial stressed that such health-based efforts aren't new to the sandwich chain. "We've always been here, but McDonald's recently introduced their salads," she said. "Then, of course, there's the devil-may-care attitude of Burger King and Hardee's and Carl's Jr."

Along with McDonald's recent efforts to offer more healthful menu options, including salads and fruit parfaits, the chain also has been active in the quest to make California a healthy state. McDonald's has agreed to spread information on health to California consumers through a number of communication devices, including tray liners and point-of-purchase messaging that will encourage healthful choices in stores and at drive-thrus.

7-Eleven announced that the chain's California units will lead the way in the rollout of the new Pick Smart products, a selection of sandwiches and wraps with fewer than 10 grams of fat and 440 calories each, according to Kevin Gardner, director of marketing for the company. The new lineup will be out in the first quarter of 2006, he said.

Although the efforts of these restaurants have been more than duly noted by the governor, Soderlund emphasized that Schwarzenegger is urging all industries to step up to the plate. "The governor looks at the issue of obesity holistically--it's not just one component, but everyone's responsibility to come together to address the issue," Soderlund said. "It's something the governor feels needs to be addressed not only by restaurants, but by schools and businesses as well."

Another prominent aspect of the governor's vision involves combating childhood obesity at schools throughout the state. Schwarzenegger recently signed legislation intended to improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages sold in schools statewide. And some of the honor roll restaurants are joining in the battle against childhood obesity, too. For instance, Subway included a kids' option in the rollout of its Fit Meals, and McDonald's will be adding point-of-purchase messaging to its Happy Meals, according to the governor's office.