News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 17, 2003
CONTACT: Colleen Young, Communications Coordinator
tel: 202-686-2210, ext. 330; cyoung@pcrm.org
Doctors Rate Airline Food for Healthy Options
Most “Buy-on-Board” Entrées Unhealthy; Only Delta’s
Song Airline Ranks High
Washington, D.C.—A report
released today by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
(PCRM) rates 10 major airlines on the availability of healthy meals.
PCRM found that as airlines have moved away from standard menus
in favor of buy-on-board meals, passengers’ access to healthy
options has decreased dramatically.
PCRM nutritionists reviewed both buy-on-board entrées and
standard in-flight meals. The menus were rated for the availability
of vegetarian and vegan (dairy - and egg-free) entrées (vegetarian
meals are naturally lower in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol,
and higher in fiber, making them a better choice for the health-conscious
consumer). Of the 10 airlines PCRM rated, only one consistently
provided healthy options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner: Song,
a new airline operated by Delta. Passengers who fly on Alaska, American,
or United will want to call ahead and special-order a healthy option,
while those flying American Eagle, Continental, Delta, Midwest,
Northwest, and U.S. Airways will want to pack a lunch or purchase
a meal in the airport before boarding.
|
How
the Airlines Rank in Healthfulness of Meal Service |
Superb Service: |
Song.
This airline, which is operated by Delta, offers healthy vegetarian
and vegan meals as part of the buy-on-board menu on all flights. |
Plan Ahead: |
Alaska, American, United.
These airlines offer vegetarian and/or vegan options, but
travelers must usually special-order such healthy meals before
their flight. |
Falling Behind: |
American Eagle, Continental, Delta, Midwest, Northwest,
U.S. Airways.
These airlines make only a rudimentary effort at providing
vegetarian and vegan meals—or they offer none at all. |
“It’s both disappointing and surprising to see such
a lack of vegetarian food on the menus—given its growing popularity,”
says Brie Turner-McGrievy, M.S., R.D., clinical research coordinator
for PCRM and the primary researcher for the report. “We hope
next year all the airlines will follow Song’s savvy lead and
make healthy vegetarian meals always available.”
The Airline Food Report is available at www.pcrm.org. To schedule
an interview with Brie Turner-McGrievy, please contact Colleen Young
at (202) 686-2210, ext. 330, or cyoung@pcrm.org.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive
medicine, especially good nutrition. PCRM also conducts clinical
research studies, opposes unethical human experimentation, and promotes
alternatives to animal research.
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