Another national restaurant chain is putting an end to including soda on kids menus.
Applebee’s is set to become the first of what’s called family-dining restaurants to remove soda pop from its children’s menus, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. This is another victory for CSPI, which initiated a campaign in 2014 to get eateries to stop including soda and other sugary drinks from kids menus, citing all the health woes it contributes to, not the least of which is obesity. (The nutritional watchdog actually would like soda off all menus. I won’t be surprised if that’s coming soon.)
“A kids’ menu is no place for disease-promoting drinks,” Jessica Almy, CSPI nutrition policy counsel, said in a statement.
Applebee’s joins a growing list of national chains that have taken sugared drinks off kiddie menus. They include McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, Subway, Chipotle and IHOP. Eight national chain eateries have changed their menus now in a short span of time. That’s huge.
This is what I love about CSPI. It never rests on its laurels. Listen to this other statement from the CSPI’s Almy as the Applebee’s move was announced:
“Other sit-down chains such as Chili’s should follow Applebee’s lead.”
Bam! You’ve been warned, Chili’s; all eyes are on you now.
