Aussie KFC first to pull out toys from children’s meals

This is to encourage more responsible food choices for children.

KFC Australia has taken the industry lead by announcing that it will no longer provide toys with any childrenʼs meals.

KFC Corporate Affairs Manager, Zac Rich, said giveaway toys had been introduced during a very different era but the concept had now had its day.

“From KFCʼs point of view it is definitely time to move on. We think the idea of toys being given away with meals has had its day and weʼre pleased to be taking the lead in removing them,” he said.

“For three years now, KFC has taken a very clear position to not advertise or actively promote our childrenʼs meals but this is the next step in removing so-called pester power at our stores altogether.

“KFC was a founding member of the Australian Quick Service Industry Initiative for Responsible Advertising to children and the withdrawal of toys continues our commitment to the principles we signed up to.

“We hope this decision today will support parents in making dietary decisions on behalf of their children which arenʼt influenced in any way by pressure to choose the meal that has a toy,” Mr Rich said.

Stores across the country have been advised that, effective immediately, toy stocks will not be replenished. Some KFC outlets have already run out and others will exhaust their stock shortly.

KFC Australiaʼs decision to remove toys is one of a number of initiatives the company has been rolling out to encourage more responsible food choices and improve the nutritional profile of its products.

Other initiatives include:
• A Sodium Reduction Program which, over the last two years, has seen a 10% reduction in the sodium content across all core chicken products and an 18% sodium reduction on chips. Sodium reductions have also been achieved in fresh breads and tortillas with further work underway to achieve an even larger sodium reduction in chicken products.

• New kilojoule menu panels in all stores across the country by 2012 toprovide customers with more information that assists them to make informed dietary choices. While not mandatory in all States, KFC will introduce the new kilojoule menu panels nationally. Core menu nutritional information is already provided on food packaging, on in-store brochures and on our website.

• Continued development of our menu including new initiatives further improving the nutritional profile of our products to be announced later this year.

Photo from yum.com

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Tags: KFC, children's meal