McDonald's makes apples Happy Meal standard

An apple a day may keep the doctor away. But when you put it in a Happy Meal, it might help keep regulators at bay too.

Michelle Obama said Tuesday that the decision by McDonald's to add apples as a regular item in its Happy Meals is a positive step in fighting childhood obesity.

McDonald's said yesterday it will make apples a standard item in its kids' meals. The company is pledging to reduce sugars, saturated fats, sodium and calories in its menu items by 2020.

Obama also lauded the world's largest burger chain for continuing to change its menu.

McDonald's said it would reduce the portion of French fries in its children's meal boxes beginning this fall, effectively taking away consumers' current choice between apples with caramel dip or fries as a Happy Meal side.

Critics, however, wasted no time complaining that the McDonald's changes don't go far enough. Kelle Louaillier, executive director of a group called Corporate Accountability International, said McDonald's is just trying to get ahead of impending regulations that will restrict the marketing of junk food to children and require restaurants to post nutrition information on menus, among other changes.

Cindy Goody, McDonald's senior director of nutrition, said that the new directives are "absolutely not" related to new regulations. Rather, she said, they're a response to customers asking for healthier choices.

McDonald's says the change will reduce calories in its "most popular" Happy Meals by as much as 20 percent. -- AP