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Extra
McDonald's says goodbye to Super Size
Abnormally large portions of french fries and soda will be off the menu by year's end at the world's largest restaurant chain.
By MSN Money staff and wire reports
McDonald's (MCD, news, msgs) plans to phase out Super Size french fries and soft drinks as the world's largest restaurant chain promotes its "Eat Smart, Be Active" initiative.
The Oak Brook, Ill., company will eliminate the seven-ounce fries carton, its largest, and stop serving 42-ounce drinks as an everyday offering.
The drinks will still be available as a promotional item, the company told Dow Jones.
"The driving force here was menu simplification," spokesman Walt Riker said after McDonald's disclosed the change Tuesday. "The fact of the matter is not very many Super Size fries are sold."
The seven-ounce carton will be out of restaurants by Dec. 31, the report said.
The company will also drop a 14-ounce version of its fruit and yogurt parfait, replacing it with one half that size. It will also replace 2% milk with 1% milk.
One step above 'large'
The move comes amid continued concerns about growing obesity in the United States.
The National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity, a coalition of health organizations, found that the original McDonald's burger, fries and 12-ounce Coca-Cola in the 1950s delivered 590 calories.
Today, an "extra value meal" including Super Size fries and 42-ounce Coke packs 1,550 calories.
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The Super Size fries contain 610 calories, 29 grams of fat, 390 milligrams of sodium and 77 grams of carbohydrates, according to analysts. The company still will sell "large" fries, which are six ounces.
Two lawsuits claiming McDonald's hid the health risks of eating Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets were thrown out in federal court in New York last year.
A documentary called "Super Size Me" reaped more unwanted publicity for McDonald's. The documentary, which chronicles the deterioration of filmmaker Morgan Spurlock's health during a monthlong experiment eating nothing but McDonald's food, won a directing prize at the Sundance Film Festival and is set for wide release this spring.
Over the past year, the McDonald's has introduced new salads and begun to offer a wider selection of yogurt, fruit, water and other healthier menu options.
A new adult-version of its Happy Meal, which will come with water, fruit, a pedometer and a diet produced by Oprah Winfrey's trainer, Bob Greene, also is expected to be rolled out nationally this year.
The company has 13,600 U.S. outlets.
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