News Roundup: Burger King serves milk, McDonald’s keeps zooming, Starbucks targeted
Burger King restaurants nationwide will now offer Hershey brand low-fat (1 percent) white and chocolate milk (pictured right) in re-sealable 8-ounce plastic bottles.
The milk is available to all customers, but it can be part of a Kids Meal. The chain says the new milk options give customers a prime opportunity to help get three servings of dairy a day, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
In its news release about the milk, Burger King says research shows two out of three kids are not getting the recommended 3 servings of dairy each day.
Visit the official 3-A-Day site all next month to learn more about the potential benefits of getting three dairy servings a day. On the site, mothers can sign up to be a 3-A-Day of Dairy Mom and receive a monthly "Get 3!" e-newsletter with recipes, offers, and tips from other moms.
McDonald's continues to offer toys based on the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars” in its Happy Meals, through July 6.
Kids and collectors can receive one of eight roadsters from the film, with the purchase of a Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal, at participating McDonald’s restaurants, while supplies last.
McDonald’s offers Apple Dippers (fresh, peeled apple slices) with low-fat caramel dipping sauce and beverage choices including Minute Maid apple juice and low-fat white and chocolate Milk Jugs, as options with its Happy Meals and Big Kids Meals.
Meanwhile, the consumer group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is now chastising Starbucks, too.
This comes shortly after CSPI’s lawsuit against Yum Brands' KFC, which seeks to stop the chicken chain's use of trans fats in its products.
That MSNBC article does a good job of showing the big picture in cases like this. Points: The Motley Fool contributor Brian Gorman says success of the lawsuit is basically irrelevant…it's the negative publicity that counts.
The article also points out that other fast-food competitors like McDonald’s and Wendy’s have faced similar criticism, then made solid efforts to offer healthier options on their menus. Not, as the article points out, that consumers often choose them. (I know that’s right. How often do I choose the grilled chicken at Chick-fil-A? Maybe once in twenty-five trips?)
Finally, is it just me, or does this seem kinda sad?