McDonald's® Canada joins new global commitment to support families through a focus on Happy Meals

The company's worldwide goals will bolster family and community partnerships

TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - McDonald's Canada is announcing their support of the global McDonald's goals released earlier today, which celebrate the company's commitment to families. Around the world and in Canada, McDonald's is expanding our commitment to families by using its reach to impact Happy Meals, access to reading and continued support for Ronald McDonald House Charities®.

The global announcement includes evolving the Happy Meal® menu and marketing practices across 120 markets around the world. In the Canadian market, McDonald's already meets local advertising pledges, and offers nutrition transparency related to Happy Meal bundles and all menu items.  Additionally, Canada will meet the new global menu goals, which include that by 2022:

• 50 per cent or more of the Happy Meal Bundle Offerings shown on menus will meet the criteria of:
• fewer than or equal to 600 calories;
• less than or equal to 10 per cent of calories from saturated fat;
• fewer than or equal to 650 milligrams of sodium; and
• less than or equal to 10 per cent of calories from added sugar.

In Canada, McDonald's will continue moving forward in demonstrating commitments to children's nutrition, nutrition transparency and families.  In recent years, a number of bold moves have furthered the Canadian company's commitment to families.  For example:  

Happy Meals

• Every Happy Meal sold in Canada includes yogurt and has the option of including apple slices
• Detailed nutrition information for menu items is available in-restaurant through the Nutrition Facts brochure, through an online Nutrition Calculator, and on the My McD's® app.
  

Access to reading

• Last year, McDonald's Canada distributed more than 3 million books in a landmark program that allows families to choose either a book or a toy in every Happy Meal.
• To help combat literacy issues, McDonald's Canada in partnership with First Book Canada donated approximately 20,000 books to kids in need.
  
  

Ronald McDonald House Charities

• Founding and forever partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Canada.
• A portion of proceeds from every Happy Meal sold goes directly to RMHC to help keep Canadian families close while their sick child receives treatment at a nearby children's hospital.
• Every year Canadians come together to celebrate McHappy Day®, which over many years has raised over $67 million for RMHC, Ronald McDonald Houses and local children's charities across the country.

Quotes:

"Families are at the heart of our business and Happy Meals are a huge part of what kids love about McDonald's," says Antoinette Benoit, Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald's Canada. "These changes are about continuing our brand's evolution, meeting the needs and wants of our guests, and also using our reach to have a positive impact around the world and in communities from coast-to-coast."

Additional Facts:

• Chicken McNuggets in Canada have no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives
• McDonald's Canada was one of 34 leading food and beverage companies in Canada to launch the Nutrition Facts Education Campaign.
• McDonald's Canada promotes only water, milk and juice as the Happy Meal beverage on menu boards and external advertising
• McDonald's was also one of the first foodservice companies to display calorie information on menu boards in all restaurants across Canada
• McDonald's is a founding member of the Canadian Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative
• McDonald's is a proud supporter of Breakfast Club of Canada's Leadership Camps
• atoMc® and Équipe McDo^MD community ice hockey programs help support over 50,000 Atom and Bantam level players every year

About McDonald's Canada
In 1967, Canadians welcomed the first McDonald's restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, serving close to three million guests every day. Together with our franchisees, we proudly employ nearly 90,000 people from coast-to-coast and approximately 85 per cent of McDonald's 1,400 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. Of the almost $1 billion we spend on food, more than 85 per cent is purchased from over 100 suppliers in Canada.

SOURCE McDonald's Canada

Adam Grachnik, McDonald's Canada, [email protected], 416-446-3354;