Jason’s deli: Challenges Industry to Fight Childhood Obesity with Food Summit

*** This press release from Jason’s Deli has not been edited by Ozarks Unbound, except to provide a hyperlink and logo ***

Revamps Kids’ Menu and Wins National Award for Effort

JUNE 16, 2009/// Fayetteville, AR /// Jason’s deli – which feeds more than 35 million people annually in 28 states – seeks to tackle childhood obesity by lowering the calories, saturated fat and sodium that children can consume during a meal at its restaurants.

“Nearly one out of three children in the United States ages two to 19 is overweight or at risk of becoming overweight,” exclaimed Rusty Coco, a co-owner of Jason’s deli.  “As restaurateurs, we have a responsibility to do the right thing which is feeding kids real, less fooled around with food.”

Today, Parents Magazine named Jason’s deli the 2nd best Fast Casual Restaurant in the U.S. for parents and families (July 2009 issue). The recognition can be attributed to a recent revision of their kids menu which reduced sodium levels by 21%, saturated fat by 20%, and calories by 10%, while also adding lots of organic ingredients. By August 1st no artificial colors or dyes will be in the Jason’s deli children’s menu or on its salad bar.

Dr. Antonia Demas, an expert on childhood nutrition for more than 35 years and a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health stated: “This is predicted to be the first generation in the country’s history that will have a shorter life span than their parents; yet this can be prevented if food companies, restaurants, educators, and the public join together.”

Coco agrees. “Lowering calories is only one element. Kids and parents need to know more about the food they eat and how to eat healthier.”

Taking it a step further, Jason’s deli will invite restaurateurs, academics and public health officials to a national summit on childhood obesity in 2010 to discuss the ways in which the industry can help fight childhood obesity.

The motivation for these changes came to Coco in an epiphany. “I woke up more than a decade ago realizing that I could not eat in my own restaurant due to harmful artificial trans fats and high fructose corn syrup.” Subsequently, he and his team eliminated artificial trans fats from its expansive menu in 2005 and last year Jason’s deli was the first restaurant in the country to remove high fructose corn syrup from its food. “When parents come to any Jason’s deli, they don’t have to worry about what’s hiding in our food,” Coco said.

Jason’s deli is located at 745 E. Joyce Blvd in Fayetteville (479.442.5500), in Nelson’s Crossing Shopping Center, directly across from the mall. Not only can a person enjoy dining in, Jason’s deli has a strong commitment to catering and will deliver anywhere from campus all the way to Bentonville.

The Beaumont, Texas-based restaurant chain has 210 delis in Chicago, DC, Eden Prairie, Atlanta, Little Rock, Dallas, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Denver, Austin, et al. Jason’s deli is a privately owned company started by a Beaumont, Texas family in 1976. It is currently number one in sales among fast casual restaurant chains with fewer than 300 locations. (QSR Magazine, Jan. 2009). ###

Christopher Spencer

Christopher Spencer, 36, is the publisher and owner of Ozarks Unbound and the food news site, The Fayetteville Food File. He is the chair of the Fayetteville Creative Economy Action Group and the social media chair of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He's also the founder of WordCamp Fayetteville. You can always contact him at cspencer@ozarksunbound.com

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