The Walt Disney Co. on Monday committed itself to healthier foods that meet "specific guidelines," including limits on calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar.

Beginning this month in Disney's U.S. parks and resorts, children's meals are automatically served with low-fat milk, 100 percent fruit juice or water, along with side dishes like apple sauce or carrots in place of traditional soft drinks and French fries, the company said.

The guidelines for licensed foods and promotions aimed at children will initially govern Disney's business partnerships and activities in the United States, said the company.

The plans will be adopted internationally over the next several years, according to the company.

Disney also announced what it labeled as "nutritionally-beneficial changes" in the meals served to children at all Disney-operated restaurants in its parks and resorts.

"Disney will be providing healthier options for families that seek them, whether at our parks or through our broad array of licensed foods," said President and Chief Executive Officer of Disney Robert Iger.

"The Disney brand and characters are in a unique position to market food that kids will want and parents will feel good about giving them," he said.

The company said the guidelines were developed in cooperation with two child health and wellness experts -- Dr. James O. Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and Dr. Keith Thomas Ayoob, associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

"By developing nutrition guidelines for children, Disney is demonstrating a long-term commitment to the health of kids," Hill said.

The guidelines include:

-- a cap on calories that results in appropriate kid-sized portions;

-- total fat will not exceed 30 percent of calories for main and side dishes and 35 percent for snacks;

-- saturated fat will not exceed 10 percent of calories for main dishes, side dishes and snacks;

-- added sugar will not exceed 10 percent of calories for main dishes and side dishes and 25 percent of calories for snacks;

-- Disney will continue to license special-occasion sweets such as birthday cakes and seasonal candy as part of its product range, but it will limit the number of indulgence items in its licensed portfolio to 15 percent by 2010.

Disney expects most of its licensed products and promotional tie-ins to meet the new guidelines by the end of 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2006)