McDonald's® Restaurants in Manitoba Adopt Informed Dining Program

Voluntary program highlights calorie and sodium information for all standard menu items

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2013 /CNW/ - McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited today announced its participation in the Informed Dining program across its restaurants in Manitoba. Officially launched today by the Government of Manitoba, this new initiative gives Manitobans access to the comprehensive nutrition information they say they want and need, before ordering a meal or snack.

McDonald's Canada announced its participation in the Informed Dining program in April 2013, when the program began as an initiative of the British Columbia government. Like many national chain restaurants, McDonald's Canada will be implementing the program nationally.

The Informed Dining program highlights calorie and sodium information for all standard menu items, along with information on daily calorie and sodium requirements. The program presents nutrition information in the same format as the Nutrition Facts table, which Canadians are already familiar with on packaged foods. The information will help provide context for customers to understand how a menu item fits into their daily needs.

McDonald's is one of the first national restaurant chains to commit to a national rollout of the program. Informed Dining will be featured in all McDonald's restaurants across the country - over 1,400 - by the end of 2013.

Informed Dining is the first nutrition information program of its kind in Canada and was launched first in British Columbia in 2013. Sherry MacLauchlan, Director of Government Relations and Sustainability at McDonald's Canada, was one of the restaurant industry leaders involved in the collaborative development of the Informed Dining program.

"We commend the Manitoba Ministry of Health for working in partnership with the foodservice industry to introduce the Informed Dining program," said MacLauchlan. "Informed Dining marks the evolution of our long-standing commitment to providing our customers with easy-to-access, comprehensive nutrition information."

McDonald's already provides comprehensive nutrition information to help customers meet and manage their individual dietary needs and preferences. In-restaurant posters, trayliners and selected packaging currently feature this information, as well as an online Nutrition Calculator and a mobile app. All formats feature the 13 core nutrients included in the Nutrition Facts table.

"From the outset, we've been a strong supporter of this initiative, and believe it is the right solution in providing access to nutrition information in restaurants," MacLauchlan added. "We've been actively working within the industry and with stakeholders to generate support for implementing the program nationally and we are delighted to see it expand to a second province."

In accordance with the Informed Dining program requirements, McDonald's will evolve the format of its current nutrition information materials by placing greater emphasis on caloric and sodium levels and how these levels compare against the recommended daily intake. The company will also feature directional signage at point of purchase to better guide customers to the nutrition information housed in a new Food Facts brochure, accessible near the front counter, which will replace the current in-restaurant poster. Customers can also continue to access nutrition information on trayliners and on selected packaging, as well as online at http://www.mcdonalds.ca/ca/en/food/nutrition_calculator.html.

About McDonald's Canada
McDonald's is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants and employ more than 80,000 people coast-to-coast.  Approximately 80 per cent of McDonald's Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. For more information about McDonald's Canada, visit www.mcdonalds.ca or follow us on Twitter (@McD_Canada and Facebook Facebook.com/McDonaldscanada) for updates on our business, promotions and menu items.

SOURCE: McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited

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