McDonald’s and Coca-Cola replace Sprite

McDonald’s and Coca-Cola replace Sprite with Sprite Zero in restaurants nationwide

The sugar-sweetened Sprite beverages offered in all McDonald’s restaurants around New Zealand are now being replaced by the sugar-free alternative, Sprite Zero.

This nationwide roll-out follows a successful 12 month trial in Counties Manukau, which took place as part of Counties Manukau District Health Board’s Let’s Beat Diabetes project. This trial resulted in an approximately 17% reduction in the amount of sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks sold in McDonald’s restaurants in the area.

Let’s Beat Diabetes Programme Manager Amanda Dunlop says: “We would like to acknowledge McDonald’s and Coca-Cola’s support and leadership for the initial trial.  We were very pleased with the trial results and support the national roll-out of this initiative.  Let’s Beat Diabetes, along with McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and other industry partners are currently exploring further opportunities to create a healthier environment for our communities.”

Replacing Sprite with Sprite Zero will further improve the range of low energy beverages available at McDonald’s (currently Diet Coke and Pump water are offered). 

McDonald’s NZ Country Manager Mark Hawthorne says the move is one useful step in assisting customers in making the best choice for them: “We are responding to the changing needs of New Zealanders.  We are continuing to provide more than a dozen drink options and are now offering more low energy drink choices. 

“We are also providing customer information in our restaurants about this change – and we have more exciting announcements about our menu range in the near future.”

For Coca-Cola, the initiative is part of a strategy to provide more sugar-free choices, along with the information people need to make balanced decisions.

“While many people can and do enjoy sweetened drinks, we know that for some a sugar-free option is a good alternative and serving Sprite Zero in McDonald’s stores has proved to be a popular option,” says Coca-Cola Oceania Ltd General Manager, Vicky Taylor.

Robert Bree, Executive Director, NZ Food Industry Group is supportive of the decision: “This bold move to replace Sprite with Sprite Zero nationally is another important and meaningful step to influence the national diet for the good.  Industry continues to lead the way by providing New Zealanders with easy choices and simple steps towards steadily reducing fat, sugar and salt consumption.  

“We commend McDonalds and Coca-Cola for their innovation and also want to recognise Counties-Manukau District Health Board for their courage and leadership in inspiring the initial trial of this project in their region.  This is another fantastic example of Industry and Health working together to tackle the issue of obesity and diabetes.”

This project is one of a series of initiatives in which both McDonald’s and Coca-Cola have delivered on commitments made in the NZ Food Industry Accord and which support the Healthy Eating, Healthy Action strategy.

McDonald’s other recent initiatives include voluntarily introducing nutrition labelling and percentage daily intake (%DI) on its packaging, supported by an in-store education campaign.  The company has also reduced the sugar levels in all its buns by approximately 40% and is cooking with a vegetable oil blend that is lower in saturated fat  and has less than 1% trans fat.  This oil change means a total reduction of more than 725 tonnes of saturated fat or an 83% reduction in saturated fats compared to early 2004.

Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd has recently signed an agreement with the Ministries of Health and Education to remove sugar sweetened fizzy drinks from all schools. Coca-Cola’s marketing and new product development have contributed to 30% of fizzy drinks bought in supermarkets now being sugar-free (versus just 20% in 2000) and between 2004 and 2008 the company will be using 10% less sugar, due to accelerating the growth of sugar-free drinks and waters.

ENDS

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