McDonalds commits to 50% salt reduction

McDonald’s Ireland has said it will reduce the salt content of food including, for the first time, a reduction in the salt content of its French fries by 50%.

The company has also committed to reducing the trans-fat levels of vegetable cooking oil to 0%.

The announcement was made at the publication of the McDonald’s 10 Commitments covering food quality, safety and choice, customer satisfaction, supply chain, employment and the environment.

The salt reduction in McDonald’s French fries will be completed within weeks, the company said today. Salt has already been reduced by 30% in Chicken McNuggets and this has been followed by a 20% salt reduction in the chicken of the McChicken Sandwich, the company added.

The reduction of trans-fat levels in vegetable oil will take place over the next two-to-three years, but will be completed earlier if supplies allow.

"The reason for the gradual reduction is because the new varieties of rapeseed needed with high oleic content are scarce. As more farmers grow it McDonald’s will be able to incorporate more of it into the frying oil blend," McDonald's said in a statement today.

The "10 commitments" also include items on the environment, including a pilot waste management programme which the company says could result in up to 80% of McDonald’s packaging waste being diverted from landfill.