Jan 31, 2007 9:29 am US/Eastern
Burger King Testing Trans Fat-Free Oils
MIAMI (CBS) ―
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Burger King is now testing trans fat-free oils.
CBS4
The King, as in Burger King, announced Wednesday that it will begin testing oils without trans fats in its fast food restaurants and is planning a national rollout by late 2008.
The world's second-largest burger chain said it has been working for more than two years to identify oils without the artery-clogging substance for eventual use in its 7,500 restaurants in the United States and Canada.
Trans fats are listed on food labels as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. They can raise bad cholesterol and lower healthy cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease, doctors say.
"We have done rigorous consumer testing and have narrowed our testing to a few oils that we're very pleased with," said John Schaufelberger, vice president of product marketing and innovation. "Our move to in-restaurant testing is a significant milestone for the Burger King system."
The Miami-based company said its goal was to deliver the taste, quality and texture that its customers expect. The chain said it will secure commitments from its suppliers for the alternative oils, after in-restaurant testing is complete.
The company plans its national rollout in late 2008, though it said it will meet New York City's trans fat-free requirements in advance of that. New York City has set a July 1 deadline for food providers to begin complying with an ordinance passed making it the first U.S. city to ban all restaurants from using artificial trans fats.
Burger King's move follows one by McDonald's, the world's largest burger chain, and other fast food chains to shift to trans-fat-free oil. Wendy's International Inc. introduced a zero-trans fat oil in August, and Yum Brands Inc.'s KFC and Taco Bell said they also will cut the trans fats from many of their foods.
Florida is one of at least 11 states that have proposed bills in 2007 to ban or restrict the use of trans fats in restaurants or school cafeterias, said Amy Winterfeld of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The Food and Drug Administration has required since January 2006 that trans-fat content be listed on all packaged foods.
The chain is owned by Burger King Holdings Inc.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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