Burger King to launch cold 'apple fries'

Burger King has today pledged to offer healthier fast-food items for American children under the age of 12, with plans to sell and market apples cut to resemble thick-cut french fries.

The fast-food chain is developing what it calls BK Fresh Apple Fries. The red apples are cut like fries and served in the same containers, but they are not fried and are served skinless and cold.

Burger King, the world’s second largest hamburger chain, said it has set nutritional guidelines to follow when targeting children under 12 in advertising, including limiting ads to cover Kids’ Meals that contain no more than 560 calories, less than 30% of calories from fat and no more than 10% of calories from added sugars.

In that vein, Burger King is building a Kids’ Meal that will contain flame-frilled Tenders, organic unsweetened apple sauce and low-fat milk, for a total of 305 calories and 8.5 grams of fat. It will be available in restaurants sometime in 2008, the company said.

“We not only want to better inform parents and kids about these new menu options but also to demonstrate through product innovation that better-for-you foods can be fun and taste good,” said John Chidsey, Burger King’s chief executive.

The 2.4-ounce (68-gram) serving of Apple Fries will have 35 calories, the company said. A small serving of Burger King french fries has 230 calories and 13 grams of fat, according to Burger King’s website.

Burger King will use US-grown apples that are cut and packaged in a sterile environment and subjected to a pre-wash that contains lemon to keep them from turning brown, said Burger King spokesman Keva Silversmith.

The Miami-based company will continue to offer its fried Chicken Tenders on its menu. The flame-grilled Tenders have 145 calories and 6 grams of fat per four-piece children’s serving. A four-piece serving of fried Tenders has 170 calories and 10 fat grams.

Miriam Pappo, a registered dietician and nutritionist, said the move is part of a trend to offer healthier products at restaurants as people become more aware of nutrition and take interest in exactly what they are eating.

“It’s a good trend. The actual ultimate solution is still to eat less fast food,” said Pappo, adding: “It will only be successful if it tastes good and it will only be successful if it fills the child up.”

Long criticised for a lack of healthier options, several quick-service food chains in recent years have developed items for those seeking fast access to a less-expensive meal that has fewer calories and less fat than a burger, french fries and a soft drink.

Burger chain leader McDonald’s offers apple slices with a low-fat caramel dip and low-fat milk in its Happy Meals, while offering salads and fruit parfaits on its regular menu.

Burger King also sells salads and has a veggie burger. It did not reveal a price for its new children’s items because food and paper costs have not been set, Silversmith said.

Ronni Litz Julien, a Miami nutritionist and author, praised Burger King but said it was the responsibility of parents to teach their children to eat healthier.

“I’m elated with the idea that they are paying more attention to the children today,” Julien said.

“The truth of the matter is that children in this country have never been more unhealthy. Fast food has been a big part of that. … If a parent doesn’t encourage this from the get go for their children, whether its 4-years-old or 10-years-old, it can’t possibly be successful.”