It is likely that most of us have, at some point in our lives, eaten meals provided by Aramark, the largest food-service provider in the United States. It is also likely that you, or someone you know, eats meals provided by Aramark on a regular basis.
Those meals are set to receive a healthier makeover as part of a five-year initiative announced earlier this month.
According to a report from The Associated Press, Aramark — in conjunction with the American Heart Association — is revising its menus and creating healthier recipes for the 2 billion meals it serves each year in schools, hospitals, sports arenas and other settings.
According to the AP report:
Aramark has teamed with the American Heart Association to cut fat and sodium by 20 percent by 2020.
The company has pledged to boost the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in its meals by the same amount over five years.
Philadelphia-based Aramark also provides meals for universities, businesses and special events. ...
Aramark spokeswoman Karen Cutler says the company is offering new menu items and tweaking stadium food and other "indulgent" options.
The company expects its shopping list for produce to climb from 200 million pounds to 240 million pounds annually.
The goal of the initiative is to improve the diets and health of Americans by 20 percent by the year 2020.
According to a news release from Aramark announcing the program:
Healthy for Life® 20 by 20, a five year initiative, introduces industry leading menu commitments by reducing calories, saturated fat and sodium levels 20 percent, and increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains 20 percent., Changes will impact more than 2 billion meals that Aramark serves annually at thousands of schools and universities, businesses, hospitals, sports and entertainment venues, parks and other destinations, with an expected impact of 10 billion meals by 2020.
Seventy-two percent of American adults have a poor diet and nearly 70 percent of American adults are overweight or obese, according to the American Heart Association. The relationship builds on existing work by both organizations and underscores the American Heart Association’s focus on its healthy living and prevention goals for 2020.
“Our mission at Aramark is to ‘Enrich and Nourish Lives’ and we can use our scale and culinary expertise to help people lead healthier lives,” Aramark Chairman, President and CEO Eric J. Foss said in the company news release announcing the initiative. “Healthy for Life 20 by 20 is a unique opportunity to pursue a shared vision with the American Heart Association and work in a meaningful way with our clients and through the communities we serve to improve the wellbeing of Americans.”