It seems Swiss Chalet wants customers to have healthier choices. In conjunction with the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Health Check programme, the chicken restaurant has modified many of their menu items to be heart-smart. Too bad they taste nasty or boring. As Toronto Star health reporter Suzanne Carere says,
Seriously, who eats a dry baked potato?
It became clear that nothing had been reformulated from the old menu. Swiss Chalet simply grouped together the items that were approved, forming an “insta-menu.”
It all seemed a little gimmicky to me.
Carere goes on to show how other fast food restaurants could also meet the health check criteria simply by omitting salad dressings, butter and cheese. She points out that recipe re-formulation is really the key, so customers have options that are both healthy and flavourful.
Carere also reviews Trident Splash (sugar-free), Apple with Raspberry gum, and wonders if the sweeteners replacing the sugar are actually a better option.
Cadbury Adams is winning the race with its new Trident Splash, which contains maltitol, maltitol syrup, sorbitol, acesulfame-K, Aspartame and Sucralose. Check it yourself. Six artificial sweeteners in one piece of gum. Is that really necessary?
Yes, it is, according to a quote by Jesse Kiefer, vice-president, Gum Centre of Excellence. The liquid centre makes it “even more critical that we find the ideal blend of sweeteners to bring out the best of both flavours.”
Well, if the guy from the Gum Centre of Excellence says so, it must be true. Because he wouldn’t have any kind of vested interest or anything, would he?
