More Americans Are Seeking Healthy Meals but Are Increasingly Dissatisfied with Restaurants' Healthy Choices, According to ARAMARK Research.

Findings on Nutrition and Away-from-Home Dining Presented at NAASO Obesity Summit in Boston

PHILADELPHIA -- According to a national survey of away-from-home eating habits and nutritional preferences conducted by ARAMARK, a growing number of American adults expect restaurants to offer healthy menu items, yet they are increasingly dissatisfied with the healthy options currently available in most restaurants. In 2006, 34 percent of adults indicated it is important for restaurants to offer health-conscious menu items, up from just 28 percent in 2005. However, only 14 percent indicate they are very satisfied with the healthy options offered by restaurants, down from 22 percent a year ago.

These statistics are part of the ARAMARK (NYSE:RMK) Nutritional DiningStyles[TM] Research being presented to clinical researchers and health professionals at the 2006 NAASO Obesity Summit in Boston October 22-24.

"Our Nutritional DiningStyles research helps us track the eating habits of consumers and tailor our menus and nutritional programs to meet their needs," said Chris Malone, ARAMARK senior vice president of marketing. "We share this information each year with leaders in the fight against obesity as part of our commitment to the health and wellness of Americans."

In planning this year's Nutritional DiningStyles study, professional services provider ARAMARK partnered with several prominent obesity and nutrition researchers to design and analyze its survey of more than 200 nutrition and dining related measures.

"ARAMARK's research provides a framework for understanding consumer nutrition behavior and away-from-home eating that we do not always get from clinical research alone," said Holly Wyatt, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and National Program Director for the Centers for Obesity Research and Education (C.O.R.E.) "The study utilizes self-reported eating habits and attitudes to segment the adult population into unique behavioral groups and capture trends over time."

Other findings from this year's DiningStyles Research included:

* 34 percent indicate they are strongly attempting to watch their weight, up from 29 percent in 2005

* Those strongly attempting to limit their intake of trans fats increased to 27 percent, up from 21 percent in 2005;

* Consumer satisfaction with healthy items away-from-home slipped dramatically in 2006, most significantly among Fine Dining, Family Style and Casual Dining restaurant formats. Casual Dining presented the biggest drop, from 34 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2006.

* While 71 percent say consumers are ultimately responsible for making sensible food choices away-from-home, 46 percent feel strongly that restaurants should provide nutritional information on all of the menu items they serve;

* The most appealing incentive for losing weight is a cash rebate on medical insurance.

This is the third year ARAMARK has conducted the Nutritional DiningStyles Research, and the third time the findings have been included in the NAASO Obesity Summit curriculum. Attended by nearly 2,000 clinical researchers and health professionals each year, the Obesity Summit promotes the latest findings in research, education and advocacy to better understand and treat obesity and to improve the lives of those affected by it.

Research-Based Program Innovation

Based on extensive consumer research, ARAMARK has introduced several dining programs and educational tools to help consumers find healthier selections at schools, hospitals, businesses, universities and other away-from-home dining venues.

The Nutritional DiningStyles Calculator (www.diningstyle.com) is an online guide that allows consumers to learn their own Nutritional DiningStyle by answering questions and providing tailored nutritional education and guidance.

The company's Fresh & Healthy education and communication campaign makes it easier for millions of customers to eat healthier at work and school while learning more about the importance of proper nutrition. Fresh & Healthy celebrates healthier lifestyles by offering nutrition tips and healthy product promotions at nearly 2,000 businesses, college and university campuses and hospitals where ARAMARK manages food services.

The company's Just4U[TM] dining program features healthy menu options, including those with fewer calories, less sodium and fewer total carbs and many items labeled "low-fat," or "heart healthy." The award-winning program, which received support from the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association, includes more than 2,000 chef-tested and dietitian-approved healthier recipes.

ARAMARK's focus on nutrition awareness helps students make informed, well-balanced meal choices whether eating in or outside of school. ARAMARK-managed school districts around the country are participating in several nutrition awareness programs that support nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities including: Healthy Kids Challenge, a community initiative that provides activity kits to school districts to instill an appreciation for healthy eating and physical activity; HealthSmart(TM) APPLES, which provides a comprehensive nutrition and activity curriculum for K-12 students; FUEL, a campaign aimed at making school lunch "cool" and relevant to secondary level students; Spike, ARAMARK's elementary level nutrition mascot; and Treat Yourself Right, a secondary level program focusing on reinforcing healthy lifestyle messages and motivating students to choose healthier menu items.

About the Research

The 2006 Nutritional DiningStyles Research, collected by Datassential Research and analyzed by Candice Bennett & Associates, consisted of 5,001 online interviews with adults aged 18 and over from across the United States. The data was weighted for age, gender, race and socio-economic status to ensure the total sample accurately reflected the U.S. adult population. Margin of error is +/- 1.35 percent at the 95 percent confidence interval. More information can be found at www.diningstyle.com.

About ARAMARK

ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2006 list of "America's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and industry analysts. The company was also ranked first in its industry in the 2006 FORTUNE 500 survey. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 240,000 employees serving clients in 20 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site, www.aramark.com