McDonald's embraces kale in bid to shed junk food image

McDonald's may be developing a taste for a new ingredient as it fights to reinvent itself: Kale.

The world's biggest burger chain says it's testing two breakfast bowls in Southern California, one of which includes the leafy green as an ingredient.

The test comes as McDonald's Corp. works to shake its junk-food image, with sales at established US locations declining for six straight quarters.

CEO Steve Easterbrook, who stepped into the top spot March 1, has said he want to turn the chain into a "modern, progressive burger company".

A McDonald's representative said the kale is included in a Turkey Sausage & Egg White bowl, which also has spinach and bruschetta.

On Wednesday, Janney analyst Mark Kalinowski had also noted on that McDonald's was introducing three salads in Canada that have kale as an ingredient.

The embrace of kale may seem odd to some, considering McDonald's recently ran an ad that celebrated the Big Mac and mocked the superfood alongside fellow trendy ingredients like soy, quinoa and Greek yogurt.