Breakthrough Moment in Restaurant Industry
By: Anthony Adragna
Published: September 16, 2011

First Lady Michelle Obama joined the major executives of the Darden Restaurant Group to announce what she called "a breakthrough moment" in the restaurant industry: a pledge to cut sodium and calories in all meals by 20 percent within ten years. 
Among the restaurants that will take part in the pledge: Olive Garden, Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. The amount of sodium and calories in all meals will decrease by 10 percent by 2016. 
Another important change will affect all children's meals. No more french fries. All meals will come with a fruit or vegetable side, along with one percent milk unless an adult asks specifically for something different. 
The changes will take affect by July 2012, but have already begun in many cases. Darden restaurants serve more than 400 million meals annually across 1,900 restaurants in 49 states. 
"This is a breakthrough moment in the restaurant industry,” Obama said. “The changes Darden will make could impact the health and well-being of the entire generation of young people."