000308 Year Long Study of Healthy Choice Entrees Launched

San Diego, CA - Koo Koo Roo, Inc., a subsidiary of Prandium, Inc., announced that its San Diego locations have been selected to participate in a landmark study sponsored by the California Department of Health Services, Accents on Health, Inc. and the California Restaurant Association. The kick-off event held in San Diego was attended by more than 100 prominent health and business, community and media professionals. Marilu Henner, television actress (Taxi and Evening Shade) and author of two books on nutrition, keynoted the event.

The 12 month study is designed to track and compare the behavior of consumers' buying habits of healthy choice entree items in San Diego restaurants versus restaurants in a control group outside the area. For the study Koo Koo Roo created six Healthy Dining Combo meals available today at its three San Diego locations. Each of the meals meets both the nutritional and fruit and vegetable content requirements for the state funded study. Six other non- competitive restaurant concepts are also participating in the study.

Consumers in the San Diego market will be interviewed by the market research firm of Juarez and Associates, a specialist in implementing and evaluating social marketing projects of this sort. Restaurant diners, health professionals and community leaders will be given educational materials throughout the study period. These efforts will be supported by an extensive radio, TV and print campaign dubbed "Treat Yourself Well" featuring healthy dining menu offerings available in San Diego.

Dr. Donald O. Lyman, Division Chief of the California Department of Health Services commented on the study and Koo Koo Roo's involvement, "Achieving healthy eating habits and a physically active lifestyle will be one of the most pervasive issues facing public health and health care in the new millennium. California has shown that it can tackle very tough problems and win. We are delighted to have Koo Koo Roo join us in this effort."

To kick off the event, attendees and media were given an opportunity to taste an assortment of healthy dining food items that will be available in the restaurants. Koo Koo Roo served its Koo Koo Roo Original Skinless Flame-broiled Chicken(r) and a chilled cucumber salad.

Susan B. Foerster, a registered dietitian with the California Department of Health Services and co-author of California Dietary Practices Survey: Overall Trends in Healthy Eating Among Adults 1989 - 1997, A Call to Action remarked, "We are exited about this program. It is the only one of its type in the country. This landmark program can turn this community, and ultimately the country, around in terms of eating out. We believe this social marketing campaign will influence the healthy dining behaviors of consumers."

Renowned for its proprietary Koo Koo Roo Original Skinless Flame-Broiled Chicken(r), Koo Koo Roo delivers a tasty alternative within the casual dining and take-home meal replacement market. Other menu selections include Koo Koo Roo's savory country herb and garlic rotisserie chicken, fresh roasted hand- carved turkey, the Chargrilled Chicken Chop bowls, hearty soups, crisp garden salads, sandwiches and a cornucopia of delicious, freshly prepared side dishes.

RETURN TO HOME PAGE

E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com