McDonald's Fries, Hold The Trans-Fat

(AP)  McDonald's said Thursday its french fries are now trans-fat-free in all its restaurants in the United States and Canada, catching it up with its fast-food rivals in that category.

CEO Jim Skinner made the word official at its annual shareholders meeting at McDonald's Corp. headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill.

McDonald's has lagged other restaurant operators in switching over to a zero-trans-fat cooking oil out of worries it would compromise the taste of its trademark fries. It has been under increasing pressure from consumer advocates and some public officials to make the change, but did so quietly.

"For a few months now, customers in our U.S. restaurants have been enjoying our fried food items, including french fries, hash browns, chicken and filet of fish, as well as our biscuits, with zero grams of trans fat per labeled serving," Skinner said.

He said McDonald's is on schedule to convert to the new oil by year's end for its remaining baked items, pies and cookies.

"While we don't plan to advertise these changes, we wanted you to be the first to know that we have followed through on our commitment while keeping the same great taste that our customers expect from McDonald's," Skinner said.

The $23 billion company was especially cautious in making the switch after reneging within months on a September 2002 pledge to introduce a new oil, citing the taste concerns.

McDonald's has nearly 14,000 restaurants in the United States.

Shares in the company fell 16 cents to $58.62 in midday trading.

[hypnotoad72]

I''ll make my own, thanks anyway. They''re healthier.

[kevsan1]

Low salt diets are not all they are cracked up to be. They can cause fainting, heartbeat irregularities (sodium is needed for the body''s electrical system) and some researchers think low sodium is even possibly a cause for some cancers. High salt is not good as well.

Low fat besides high fat is also bad news. Moderation in everything is the best plan.

[simpsonman19]

Remember the KFC commercials from about a year ago when they stopped using trans fat? The mom would bring home a bucket and was like, hey no trans fat so we can eat it! They cracked me up everytime, sure no trans fat, but lets ignore all the sodium, fat, calories.

[spadeisspade]

It is a sad day in America when companies are railroaded into doing things to keep Americans from getting fatter. What ever happened to will power and self control? Now you have to have the government involved in what kind of fat you eat?

[vitterdidder]

Unless they also cut the salt on the fries, they are still terribly unhealthy. Customers should be allowed to add their own salt if they so choose. Why should someone interested in a low-salt diet be subjected to some teeniebopper pouring a gallon of salt on a small order of fries?

[shawnhussey]

It is good news that McDonald''s is eliminating trans-fat from its restaurants.Unfornately it will not satisfy most of the company''s critics who blame fast-food corporations for America''s health woes.Our nation does have millions of obese and overweight individuals.But the fault does not rest with the fast-food industry.Most of the overweight Americans eat far too much and exercise far too little.People need to exercise every day and eat in moderation in order to maintain their health.I recommend exercising every day for at least 30 minutes.I love to walk and ride the bicycle.Exercise is a great habit that one can learn to enjoy a lot.

[alomarsmom]

No, no one said it was healthy. The fact is they had to make the change without telling people so they didn''t jump up and say it doesn''t taste as good anymore. It is a little harder to do that since they have been eating it for 4 months without noticing the difference. That was the point of the story.

[displeased]

It''s still crrap food with very little nutritional value.

[rf35]

So what, McDonald''s is now healthy? Gimme a break.