KFC bans trans fat from its menu - but not in the UK

October 30, 2006

Times Online October 30, 2006 KFC was facing a lawsuit from health activists over its continued use of trans fats (TEH ENG KOON/AFP/Getty Images) KFC bans trans fat from its menu - but not in the UKFrom James Bone, of The Times, in New York Artery-clogging trans fats are likely to disappear from fast-food and baked goods after Kentucky Fried Chicken announced today that it was joining other outlets in dropping unhealthy cooking oil from the menu. The giant American chain promised its famous Colonel Sanders' famous fried chicken would remain "finger-lickin' good" despite the change, made under pressure from a US lawsuit and planned new health regulations in New York. Activists hailed the decision as a death knell for trans fat-rich partially hydrogenated oil, which contributes to tens of thousands of deaths a year by increasing so-called "bad" cholesterol. "I think partially hydrogenated oil's days are numbered. I can see it hanging on for two or three more years, but with the major companies switching away, the minor companies will move away and that makes it easier for government to take action," said Michael Jacobson, director of the non-profit Centre for Science in the Public Interest. Trans fats are the latest target of health activists after their successful campaign to limit smoking in

restaurants and other public places. Denmark outlawed most trans fats two years ago by imposing hefty fines - or even prison terms - for preparing food with more than 2 percent trans fats. The Californian town of Tiburon became the first American city to bar trans fat, barring it in all its 18 restaurants in 2004. Now New York, America's largest city, is planning to follow suit in a move that will have a ripple effect around the world. Michael Bloomberg, the city's Mayor, who imposed a controversial ban on smoking in New York's bars and restaurants, announced last month he planned to outlaw trans fats. New York's health department held a public hearing today on a proposal to eliminate trans fats from restaurant food over the next 18 months. Chicago considered a similar move, but dropped it in favour of a voluntary ban. Restaurants in Boston now list the level of trans fats in dishes on their

menus. "Not one restaurant in Tiburon has had anything negative to say about the change," said Stephen Josephs, a British-born activist from the Californian town. "It's a myth that food cooked in non-partially hydrogenated oil does not taste as good." Trans fat, found in fried food, margarine, vegetable shortening and baked goods, are so common that the average American eats 4.7lbs of it a year. Some New York City health officials say trans fats are so unhealthy they belong in the same category as food spoilt by poor refrigeration or rodent droppings. Ironically, partially hydrogenated oil - processed to add hydrogen to increase its shelf-life - was added to the diet because it was initially thought to be a healthy substitute for natural fats like butter or lard. But research by Harvard's School of Public Health estimated that trans fats contribute to

the death of 30,000 Americans a year. Wendy's, a US-wide burger chain, has already dropped trans-fat and McDonald's says that it plans to do the same, but has given no date. Disney said two weeks ago that it would eliminate trans fats from food sold at its theme parks. KFC had been sued by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, which the organisation now plans to withdraw. KFC's decision initially affects only its 5,500 restaurants in the United States, although it hopes outlets elsewhere will eventually take similar steps. "Many countries in our international market already have zero trans fat cooking oil. The remaining ones are working on a transition plan, and that

will be subject to local supply and local taste," Gregg Dedrick, KFC's president, said. The company will replace its partially hydrogenated soybean oil with a low-linolenic soybean oil and says tests show customers cannot taste the difference. In a statement tonight KFC UK said that it could not remove trans fats from food at British outlets because it was unable to source sufficient quantities of low linolenic soybean oil, which was being phased in by April in the US. A sample fried chicken leg handed out at a press conference in New York was too soggy for a good comparison because it had got stuck in traffic on its way from the kitchen, but was still oily enough that it certainly needed a good finger lickin' afterwards. New York's ethnic restaurateurs have spoken up against the city's proposed ban, saying they could face heavy fines for preparing such delicacies as cannoli and egg rolls. Charles Hunt, head of

the New York State restaurant association, told today's public hearing that the industry wanted to work with health officials to phase out trans fats. But he said the proposed 18-month deadline was too short. But Nicky Perry, owner of the Tea and Sympathy English restaurant and A Salt and Battery fish-and-chip shop in New York's West Village, said that she made the switch as soon as she heard about the planned new rules. "Done it!" she said. "There is no trans fat in anything in my restaurants.. "The only thing we found trans fat in was the Bisto gravy - but it was a miniscule amount." Peter H

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