Originally published January 1 2006
Trans fat laws impact foodmakers but not restaurant industry
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Legislation requiring food manufacturers to include trans fat information on food labels takes effect January 1, but the legislation does not impact the restaurant industry, which by and large continues its unhealthy cooking practices.
Major restaurant chains such as McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut and Dairy Queen have been much slower in cutting back on their use of frying and baking oils that contain artery-clogging trans fats, according to a survey of the industry by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group.
A nutrition-labeling requirement that takes effect Jan. 1 prompted cookie makers such as Kraft, maker of Oreos, to eliminate trans fats, but the federal rule applies only to packaged products and not to foods sold in restaurants.
Panera Bread, which has 825 restaurants nationwide, including 15 in Iowa, is going to stop using partially hydrogenated oil in its baked goods and start using butter and palm oil instead.
Butter and palm oil both contain saturated fats, but experts say they are slightly more healthful than trans fats.
The switch is to be made before the end of the year.
"We are taking a good look nutritionally and healthwise at our items," said Panera spokeswoman Julie Somers.
McDonald's is testing more healthful oils for its french fries at a few restaurants and has reduced the trans fat content of some products, including Chicken McNuggets, according to the survey.
Popeyes, a national fried chicken chain that plans to open a Des Moines location, has no plans to change its ingredients, and neither does Starbucks, which sells a varieties of pastries along with its coffee and lattes.
A bill introduced by Harkin would require menus to disclose the amount of sodium and calories as well as saturated and trans fats.
Food manufacturers have been hurrying to reformulate their products before the Food and Drug Administration's Jan. 1 deadline for trans fat content to be reported on nutrition labels.
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