Fast food chains reduce trans fats: study
July 19, 2010
Debra Black
STAFF REPORTER
Call them Mini-Mcfries—mini as in with virtually no trans fats.
It seems McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Jack in the Box and Dairy Queen have all lived up to their promises to reduce the trans fat in the oils they cook with, according to new research by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
The research, which was presented at the National Nutrient Databank Conference in Grand Forks, North Dakota, found that McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s, significantly decreased the trans and saturated fatty acid composition of French fries between 1997 and 2008, according to Lisa Harnack, a professor of epidemiology and director of Nutrition Coordinating Centre at the School of Public Health.
For those three restaurants saturated fat levels either went down or stayed about the same, Harnack said. The other two restaurants did not show any difference in trans fats during the study period, but have since listed nutritional information that indicates they have decreased both kinds of fat since 2008.
Over the past decade, trans fats have received a lot of attention because of research that shows they can elevate heart disease by increasing “bad” LDL cholesterol and decreasing “good” LDL cholesterol. Health experts have long recommended diets without trans fats and high saturated fats, or only very slight amounts.
“Before the shift was made, 10 per cent of calories in French fries were coming from trans fatty acid,” explained Harnack in an interview with the Star. After the shift was made the amount of trans fats was negligible, she said.
In the United States about 10 per cent of Americans’ calories come from fast food. So the issue has been a growing concern, as it is here in Canada. Harnack’s research however did not look at whether a similar reduction in trans fats and or saturated fats had taken place in Canada.
But on the Canadian website for McDonald’s, for example, under nutritional information the chain lists a large portion of French fries as having 560 calories with 3.5 grams of saturated fat and 0.3 grams of trans fat.
Burger King Canada listed a large French fries as having 440 calories with 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat.
“Given people are eating out, it’s good they made the shift. But you still need to watch the large portions and high salt items,” she warned. “People still have to choose wisely when they’re eating out.”
But she is pleased by the reductions her research has found and hopes that it is the beginning of a trend in fast food outlets. “It gives me hope that they will address other health concerns with their products.”
Harnack’s study, which she hopes to have published soon, was funded by the National Institute of Health.
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