Children Now Banned From Consuming This Burger King Item

Good news for health conscious parents: Burger King no longer advertises soft drinks with their kids meals and you won’t find it on their kids menu either.

Even though Burger King is far from any health haven, many believe that this is a step in the right direction. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group, states that “sodas are the leading source of calories” in the diets of America’s children.

Who Really Gets The Credit?

Burger King is certainly not the pioneer of such a decision. Similar announcements have been made a few months prior by McDonald’s and Wendy’s, and not because these fast food giants had an epiphany about their products and how they’re harming the consumer.

Pressure from health advocacy groups, lawmakers, consumers and activists that lobbied for two years has finally prompted Burger King and other restaurants to up the quality of their food. Haven’t you noticed the fast food campaigns that promote “fresh,” “all natural ingredients” in an attempt to convince you that the burger you’re eating is not made of “mystery meat?”

Thank You For Removing What Should Have Never Been There!

Recently, McDonalds also announced its decision to eliminate human antibiotics from its chicken. If you pack a bunch of chickens in a box of horrid conditions, antibiotics come in handy to prevent disease. Understandably, the possible implications on human health influenced a McDonald’s policy to remove these antibiotics within the next two years.

A California environmental group successfully lobbied for Dunkin Donuts to remove a whitening agent, titanium dioxide, from its powdered sugar donuts. No sufficient safety testing was given for the chemical, and the environmental group argues that the chemical could be linked to DNA damage among other health issues.

How Fast Food Kids Meals Affect a Child’s Perspective on Diet

Consumers develop their eating habits from young. Pairing soft drinks with meals gives children the impression that you have to consume soda every time you dine out. Childhood obesity is on the rise in America, up from 7% in 1980 to 18% in 2012. There are unhealthy messages being sent to our children about diet, and their minds and bodies pay the ultimate price.

So What Are the Substitutes?

Instead of fizzy, sugary, empty calorie beverages, Burger King is offering fat-free milk, 100% apple juice and low fat chocolate milk. Some consumers argue that the substitutes are no better. Fruit juices are often just as high or higher in sugar as a can of coke and the health issues surrounding milk, among other animal products have been documented as well.

If You Insist on Giving Your Child Soda…

At Burger King, you can still opt for a soft drink for your child if you so desire, but one thing is certain. Happy-meals aren’t making people happy anymore, Burger King is falling off its thrown and Wendys is failing to ginger our taste buds. These days, you hear more people shunning fast food joints than dangerously craving them. For the health conscious consumer, it’s about time.