McDonald's to offer healthier Happy Meal

OAK BROOK, Ill., July 27 (UPI) -- For a healthier Happy Meal, McDonald's is providing a low-fat dairy option, a half-serving of apple slices and fewer french fries, the U.S. company says.

Jan Fields, president of McDonald's USA, says the menu changes, scheduled to appear in September in some locations and at all 14,000 McDonald's locations in early 2012, include the addition of more nutritionally balanced choices that are affordable, along with an increased focus on providing nutrition information.

"The commitments we're announcing today will guide the future evolution of our menu and marketing," Fields said in a statement.

McDonald's also pledged to:

-- raise nutrition awareness among children and parents through national marketing initiatives in 2012;

-- provide funding for grass-roots community nutrition awareness programs;

-- reduce added sugars, saturated fat and calories through varied portion sizes, reformulations and innovations by 2020; and

-- reduce sodium an average of 15 percent overall across its national menu of food choices by 2015.

McDonald's has already reduced sodium by 10 percent in the majority of its national chicken menu offerings, most recently Chicken McNuggets.