Southern California McDonald's® Puts Calories Front And Center

LOS ANGELES, July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This week Southern California McDonald's® restaurants are introducing "Favorites Under 400 Calories" – a new menu platform featuring existing popular food and beverage choices at counters and drive-thrus across the Southland.  The new menu supports McDonald's ongoing commitment to provide nutrition information in accessible ways that empower our customers and employees to make choices that are right for their nutrition needs.  Select items from "Favorites Under 400 Calories" are also spotlighted in McDonald's "Win When USA Wins Gold" promotion which brings customers the fun of the London 2012 Olympic Games through a unique online experience.

"We've found that customers are surprised to learn about the calorie content of some of their favorite menu options at McDonald's," said Michael Mangione, Jr., McDonald's owner/operator and president of the McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California (MOASC).  "In fact, customers may be surprised to know that about 80 percent of national menu choices are under 400 calories for the standard recipe.¹"

Recent research suggests only about one in seven Americans (15 percent) accurately estimates the number of calories they need to maintain their weight.² In addition to listing calories, various promotional materials highlight the average adult needs about 2,000 calories a day, although individual calorie needs vary.

"McDonald's is bringing greater awareness to calories starting with some of customers' favorite menu items for under 400 calories," said Cindy Goody, PhD, MBA, RD, McDonald's USA senior director of nutrition. "With 'Favorites Under 400 Calories,' we hope to help customers understand how their choices fit within their daily recommended calorie needs, particularly with portion sizing and eating in moderation."

"Favorites Under 400 Calories" also engages customers in the excitement of the Olympic Games through the "Win When USA Wins Gold" promotion, beginning July 24. Customers have two ways to win. Select items from the new menu contain a game piece and customers can peel and win prizes instantly including free McDonald's "Favorites Under 400 Calories" menu items. Additionally, all game pieces have a code that customers can enter at www.USAWinsGold.com. From this site, customers compete alongside the Team USA Olympians for a chance to win prizes whenever the USA wins a gold medal in a specified event. Prizes include $25,000 in gold, trips to London and Panasonic VIERA® HDTVs.

The new menu platform is one of many ways in which McDonald's continues to offer nutrition information to help customers make informed choices. The company started providing nutrition information more than 35 years ago and that commitment has continued to grow.

Customers can access McDonald's nutrition information for food and beverage choices on www.mcdonalds.com, McDonald's mobile app, toll-free customer experience and insights line, in-restaurant brochures, reverse side of tray liners and select menu packaging. They can also use the online tool My Meal Builder to mix and match food and beverage choices and view nutrition and ingredient information for customized menu choices.

MOASC is comprised of nearly 600 franchised and company-owned McDonald's restaurants in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. Follow us on Twitter @McDonalds_SoCal.

McDonald's Global Olympic Sponsorship

McDonald's commitment to the Olympic Movement began in 1968, when the company airlifted hamburgers to U.S. athletes in Grenoble, France, after they reported being homesick for McDonald's food. McDonald's has served its menu of choice and variety to millions of athletes, their coaches, families and fans. London 2012 marks the ninth consecutive Games that McDonald's will feed the athletes as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games.

1. Based on Nutrition Facts for national menu items (standard recipe) posted on www.mcdonalds.com<http://www.mcdonalds.com> as of May, 2012. Does not include sauces, salad dressings, custom orders and additional condiments.

2. International Food Information Council Foundation. 2012 Food & Health Survey. Consumer Attitudes Towards Food Safety, Nutrition and Health. Accessed from: http://www.foodinsight.org/Resources/Detail.aspx?topic=2012_Food_Health_Survey_Consumer_Attitudes_toward_Food_Safety_Nutrition_and_Health

Contact: Elicet Vega
Porter Novelli
(323) 762-2432
[email protected]

SOURCE Southern California McDonald’s