Switch to diet drink shows way

Fast-food lovers can expect greater efforts to make menus healthier after the success of a diet-drink trial.

All McDonald's stores in South Auckland scratched sugar-laden Sprite off their drinks lists in December in favour of Sprite Zero, an artificially sweetened soft drink.

An Auckland University evaluation shows the scheme has reduced sugar consumption from the stores' soft drinks by 17 per cent.

The ongoing trial was arranged with Coca-Cola and the Counties Manukau District Health Board's Let's Beat Diabetes programme.

Programme leaders hope - although it is unproven - that substituting diet drinks for sugary ones will help to prevent weight gain. Obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes.

The health board says it is working with Coca-Cola, McDonald's and other fast-food chains on more ways to make menus healthier.

The manager of the diabetes programme, Amanda Dunlop, said yesterday that food companies were developing ideas for healthier options under their commitments in the Food Industry Accord.

The Sprite Zero trial had reinforced that by showing that providing a healthier alternative was economically viable.

The university evaluation asked McDonald's owner-operators and their staff about the trial. Ms Dunlop said this revealed no negative reactions from customers and no ill-effects on the stores.

"It really was a win-win situation and it was only a trial. We are really happy with the outcome."

McDonald's spokeswoman Joanna Redfern-Hardisty said, "The general feedback through the restaurants from customers has been really positive".

Burger King has expressed interest in the trial. General manager Glenn Corbett said the chain was analysing it with the health board and Coca-Cola.