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Statement

STATEMENT OF Monifa Bandele, Senior Campaign Director, MomsRising, On Decision to Remove Sodas From Kid’s Menus at IHOP and Applebee’s

November 30, 2015
Youth & Family Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

IHOP, Applebee’s to Eliminate Sugary Sodas from Kids’ Menu
“MomsRising applauds DineEquity, the owner of IHOP and Applebee’s restaurant chains, for announcing today that they are removing soda as a default option on the kids’ menu at their restaurants. On behalf of our more than one million members, MomsRising has urged DineEquity and other chain restaurants to improve the nutritional quality of kids' meals by promoting healthier drink options for children. The voices of moms and families are being heard far and wide!
 
“DineEquity now joins Dairy Queen, Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway, Chipotle, and Panera in making this important first step. Currently, almost one in three young people are at risk for nutrition-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. Sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda play a unique role in promoting disease because they are the largest source of added sugar in children’s diets.
 
“While we are encouraged by DineEquity and other restaurants taking this important step, we are still reaching for a future where restaurants do even more to offer healthy options for children and adults by serving whole grain rolls, providing more fruit and vegetable options, reducing sodium across the menu, and adopting a comprehensive policy to limit the marketing of unhealthy food to children. However, until that day comes, we are bolstered by these positive movements in the right direction and we will continue to make our voices heard on this important issue.”
 
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MomsRising partner organizations the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) also released statements on DineEquity’s decision to promote healthier drink options for children:
 
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.