McDonald's® Commitment to Menu Choice, Education and Physical Activity Continues With New Initiatives

McDonald's continues its focus on menu choice, education and physical activity through healthy lifestyles initiatives including a national holiday trayliner featuring Bob Greene and new local market Happy Meal choice testing.

"McDonald's is truly committed to offering information about healthy lifestyles and quality menu choice to customers," said Mike Roberts, president of McDonald's U.S.A. "In 2004, we will implement a variety of programs to continue to educate customers about taste, choice and quality at McDonald's."

Bob Greene Trayliner

The nationwide trayliner features Bob Greene's "Tips for Leading an Active Lifestyle" and a short quiz, which allows customers to determine if their lifestyles are balanced. It will be featured nationwide, reaching more than 20 million customers each day, through the end of 2003, or while supplies last. Greene, Oprah's personal trainer and best-selling author, partnered with McDonald's to help educate customers about healthy menu choices and physical activity.

"My partnership with McDonald's has allowed me to reach even more Americans with important information about leading and committing to active lifestyles," said Bob Greene. "This new McDonald's trayliner provides another effective way to educate the public on eating smart and being active."

This past September, Greene helped launch McDonald's "Go Active™! Happy Meal", a test pilot program that offered customers a Stepometer and a "Step with it" booklet with the purchase of a Premium Salad® and a bottle of water or soft drink.

Happy Meal Options

On a local front, McDonald's is offering its customers in select markets additional choice through new menu options in McDonald's Happy Meals. Today, McDonald's is launching Milk Jugs (White and Chocolate), Apple Juice and Apple Dippers® in Happy Meals in three test markets: Altoona, Pennsylvania, Columbus, Ohio and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Customers in these markets have the option to substitute Apple Dippers for french fries and Apple Juice or Milk for a soft drink at no additional charge. The new products will be tested for a three-month period.

   -- Milk Jugs: McDonald's White Milk is now joined by a new Chocolate
      Milk offering.  Both are in fun, kid-friendly new packaging designed
      to resemble more of a bottle rather than the traditional milk carton,
      which McDonald's formerly used.  Both contain eight ounces of one
      percent milk, and are an excellent source of Calcium and Vitamin D
      and a good source of Vitamin A.
   -- Apple Juice: The Minute Maid Apple Juice comes in a 6.75 ounce
      convenient drink box and consists of 100% Pure Apple Juice.  Minute
      Maid Apple Juice is an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good
      source of Calcium.
   -- Apple Dippers: The 2.4 ounce Apple Dippers are sliced apples served
      in a convenient go-anywhere bag and accompanied with a delicious
      caramel dip containing only one gram of fat.  Apple Dippers provide
      an easy way for adults and children to consume one serving of the
      recommended daily intake of fruit.

McDonald's Healthy Lifestyles initiative is an ongoing comprehensive program with three key strategies focused on menu choice, education and physical activity:

   -- Menu choice: McDonald's provides a quality menu that offers a variety
      of items and serving sizes. Customers can find new items, like
      Premium Salads and Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfaits, which, in conjunction
      with many of our customers' favorite traditional items, like the
      Chicken McGrill® sandwich, allow them to choose meals that meet
      their individual nutritional needs and preferences.
   -- Education: For more than 30 years, McDonald's has been a leader in
      providing customers with nutrition and ingredient information to help
      them make informed decisions. Today, McDonald's does this through in-
      restaurant McDonald's & You® brochures, online at
      www.mcdonalds.com , and via a toll-free customer phone number
      (1-800-244-6227). A service available at the mcdonalds.com website,
      called "Bag a McMeal", allows customers to mix-and-match menu items
      and serving sizes to tailor meals that meets specific nutritional
      needs.
   -- Physical Activity: McDonald's conducts global, national and local
      programs including: McDonald's sponsorship of the Olympic Games; the
      McDonald's All American™ High School Basketball and Soccer
      programs; "Get Moving with Ronald McDonald®", a new educational
      program for children; "What's on Your Plate® with Willie
      Munchright™", a nutritional program for kids; and local youth
      sports programs, among others.

McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants serving nearly 47 million people in 100 countries each day. Approximately 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.

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SOURCE: McDonald's Corporation

CONTACT: Lori Miller of McDonald's, +1-630-623-3913

Web site: http://www.mcdonalds.com/