By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
VRG Research Director
In recent months, national convenience store chain 7-Eleven® has introduced a “healthy, fresh” line of foods intended to appeal to health-conscious consumers. It is intended to go beyond the fresh fruit (such as bananas) that the some 7-Eleven® stores have offered for many years to include healthier snack and meal packs.
The VRG contacted 7-Eleven® in February 2013 for a list of the vegetarian and vegan options in their fresh food line. We received this reply:
Vegetarian-Friendly Foods at 7-Eleven Stores
These products should be available at the 7-Eleven Inc. stores that have our
daily-delivered, fresh-foods program, which is about 95% of our U.S. stores.Bistro Protein Snack Pack – celery and carrot sticks, grapes, cubed cheese,
hummus and little, soft pita bread rounds. The cheese is from Sargento® with
vegetarian rennet.
Celery and carrot sticks with a separately packaged portion pack of ranch
dressing (milk and cheese)
Yoplait® yogurt parfaits with only fresh (not frozen) strawberries, and
strawberry + blueberries
Macaroni salad
Potato salad
Several varieties and sizes of bean and cheese burritos
1-oz. size of string cheese, 2-oz. size bar of Borden’s® yellow cheese
Hard-boiled eggs with packaged salt and pepper
A side salad with no meatWe also offer many types of juice drinks and beverages.
The VRG asked 7-Eleven® if it were possible to purchase a bean burrito without cheese. We were told that “For manufactured (previously frozen) fast food burritos, [o]ur burritos contain meat or meat and beans. The vegetarian-friendly option is our freshly-made, delivered daily burrito option “Bean & Cheese,” always together. There is no vegan option.” (The cheese is not in a side cup that can be left off; the cheese is mixed with the beans inside of the flour tortilla.)
Regarding the salsa available at stores, we learned from 7-Eleven® that “The Heinz® salsa and Del Monte® pico de gallo that 7-Eleven® recommends its stores use are vegan friendly – all veggies. These are in a condiment station where customers can help themselves.”
Lastly, 7-Eleven® told us that “We continue to look at new food items that can meet our guests’ snack and meal needs.” Consumers interested in seeing 7-Eleven® expand its fresh food line to include vegan options are encouraged to contact the chain directly through the 7-Eleven® website: http://corp.7-eleven.com/ContactUs/tabid/184/Default.aspx
Readers may find out more about 7-Eleven® healthier snack and meal options here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/business/7-eleven-stores-focus-on-healthier-food-options.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1356707700-8H1rDprhmmuaiIzAzaMI/Q&
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