Consumer Reports Looks At Fries

The August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports magazine (now on news stands) takes a look at the fast food french fry.

Many of the major fast food chains have gone "Trans Fat Free" with their french fries and Consumer Reports has confirmed that the fries at Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's are, in fact, free of trans-fats.

(Note: McDonald's has NOT eliminated trans fat from their new Angus Third Pounder burgers... more on that tomorrow.)

Further, they have found that the fries taste about the same as they used to.

Consumer Reports ranked Wendy's and McDonald's fries as "very good" and Burger King's fries as "good."

One of their observations about the Burger King fries is that they "Taste more of oil than potato."

In the August issue of Consumer Reports and archived online.

More on Chick-fil-a's Trans Fat Elimination

Both Burger King and Chick-fil-a announced the elimination of Trans Fat from their menus last week.

Chick-fil-a has now offered more information on their announcement.

Of note is the fact that none of Chick-fil-a's core menu items, including it's signature Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-a Nuggets and Chick-fil-a Chick-n-Strips ever had any trans fat.  They are pressured cooked in 100% refined peanut oil which is naturally trans fat free.

But, Chick-fil-a's popular Waffle Potato Fries, it's breakfast biscuits and some dessert items did have some trans fat.  The Waffle Potato Fries have been trans fat free for the past year.  The trans fat will be phased out of the breakfast biscuits by November.  The only remaining trans fat will be in Chick-fil-a's Cheesecake which has .5 grams of naturally occurring trans fat (and zero grams of artificial trans fat).

from Chick-fil-a:

“While we are proud that we successfully removed trans fat from our lunch and dinner menus, we are especially proud of our accomplishments within our breakfast lineup,” said Woody Faulk, vice president of brand development and director of Chick-fil-A’s menu strategy. “Breakfast has proven to be an extremely competitive daypart for the quick-service industry in recent years, and we are confident the diversity of our menu and the fact we have removed trans fat from our breakfast items without sacrificing taste will continue to help position Chick‑fil-A as a leader in the breakfast category.”

“We are also honored that others in the industry have taken note of our efforts to offer customers a broader menu with healthier choices, especially within our Kid’s Meal offerings,” Faulk added, noting Men’s Health magazine editors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding recently recognized Chick-fil-A in their new book, “Eat This, Not That for Kids,” as being ‘America’s Healthiest Restaurant for Kids.’ “We have been intentional about offering a variety of healthier options for children over the past several years. We now offer a fruit cup as side option as part of our Kid’s Meals, and children also have a variety of beverage choices, including milk, apple juice, or freshly squeezed lemonade. Offering a menu with zero grams of trans fat is a strong complement to our nutritional efforts for children.”

Burger King & Chick-fil-a Eliminate Trans Fats

Burger King announced today that all artificial Trans Fats will be eliminated from their menu items by November 1, 2008.

"Removing artificial trans fats from our cooking oils and ingredients is another example of our BK Positive Steps nutrition program," said Burger King Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John W. Chidsey. "Many Burger King restaurants have been using trans fat free cooking oils for several months, and our customers tell us that their favorite menu items taste the same, or even better. This is a result of our rigorous operational standards, supply requirements, and extensive consumer taste tests."

Burger King will be transitioning to two proprietary blends of three oils.

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According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chick-fil-a announced yesterday that they would be eliminating Trans Fat from their foods. We've requested more info from Chick-fil-a.

Arby's Toasted Subs

Arby's has introduced Toasted Subs to their Market Fresh sandwich line-up.

Toasted Subs seem to be all the rage since Quizno's popularized them. But unlike Quizno's, Arby's has already released the nutritional information for their toasted subs (and everything else). Good for them! (You can find the info below.)

There are 4 Toasted Subs: the French Dip & Swiss Toasted Sub, the Philly Beef Toasted Sub, the Classic Italian Toasted Sub, and the Turkey Bacon Club.

As part of the Toasted Sub announcement, Arby's Chief Marketing Officer, Cheryl Barre, said: "The majority of fast food restaurants that serve subs don’t have our combination of two things – high quality, fresh ingredients and the added convenience of not having to get out of your car – the drive-thru."

The subs will be advertised with a new "I'm Thinking Arby's" television campaign.

Descriptions and nutritional information:
The Philly Beef Toasted Sub (pictured top left) features roast beef, melted Swiss cheese, roasted onions, green and red bell peppers and roasted garlic sauce on a toasted ciabatta roll. It has 738 calories, 332 calories from fat, 35 grams total fat, 9 grams saturated fat, 1 gram trans fat, 86 mg cholesterol, 1881 mg sodium, 64 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 3 grams sugars, 31 grams protein.
The French Dib & Swiss Toasted Sub (bottom right) features roast beef and melted Swiss cheese on a toasted ciabatta roll, served with a side of au jus for dipping. It has 621 calories, 181 calories from fat, 19 grams fat, 7 grams sat-fat, 1.5 grams trans fat, 79 mg cholesterol, 3397 mg sodium, 68 grams carbs, 3 grams fiber, 2 grams sugars, 37 grams protein.
The Classic Italian Toasted Sub (top right) has ham, salami, pepperoni, melted mozzarella cheese, banana peppers and garlic mayonnaise, topped with lettuce, tomatoes and red onion and drizzled with red wine vinaigrette, on a toasted ciabatta roll. It has 827 calories, 410 calories from fat, 45 grams total fat, 13 grams sat fat, .5 grams trans fat, 89 mg cholesterol, 2495 mg sodium, 69 grams carbs, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams sugar.
And the Turkey Bacon Club Toasted Sub (bottom left) features thinly sliced turkey breast, melted Swiss cheese, chopped pepper bacon and herbed mayonnaise on a toasted ciabatta roll, finished with lettuce, tomatoes and red onion. It has 619 calories, 159 calories from fat, 17 grams total fat, 5 grams saturated fat, no trans fat, 81 mg cholesterol, 2052 mg sodium, 66 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 3 grams sugars, 41 grams protein.

BK's new $1 trans fat sandwich

Burger King is now serving a spicy, crispy chicken sandwich that only costs a buck.

The Spicy Chick'n Crisp Sandwich is a crispy chicken filet with a spicy kick served with lettuce and mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun.

It may not shrink your wallet much, but it will certainly expand your waist. For a smallish, one dollar sandwich, this thing is loaded with fat. And not just any fat...it's got 2 grams of trans fat!

I thought BK was planning on going trans-fat free like Wendy's and so many other fast food chains. Guess not.

It has 480 calories, 280 calories from fat, 31 grams of fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 2 grams trans fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 460 mg sodium, 8 grams carbs, and 10 grams of protein.

UPDATE: Here's the TV ad promoting the sandwich as the latest member of the BK Value Menu. It's a strange ad made on the cheap (like the sandwich I guess).

Wendy's Baconator quite popular

Wendy's new "Baconator" sandwich has six strips of hickory smoked bacon on top of 1/2 lb. of beef with American cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise.

"This is one of the most successful new product introductions we've had in some time," said Wendy's Chief Executive Officer and President Kerrii Anderson.

Wendy's sold 25 million of the Baconators in the first 8 weeks they were being promoted.

That's over 20 billion calories and 2,810,893 lbs of fat! That much fat is equal to 439 H2 Hummers. (And you'll need a Hummer to tote you around if you eat many Baconators!)

Here's the nutrition facts for just 1 Baconator: 830 calories, 460 calories from fat, 51 grams of fat, 22 grams saturated fat, 2.5 grams trans fat, 170 mg cholesterol, 1920 mg sodium, 35 grams carbs, 1 gram fiber, 8 grams sugar, 57 grams protein.

BK's pledge on advertising to kids

This week Burger King announced their new policy on advertising to kids with their pledge to the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

BK's pledge limits Burger King advertising and product placement aimed at children under 12 to 'Kids Meals' that meet the following criteria:

• No more than 560 calories per meal;
• Less than 30 percent of calories from fat;
• Less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat;
• No added trans fats; and
• No more than 10 percent of calories from added sugars.

As part of their 'pledge,' BK listed 3 items they are considering for their Kids Meal:
Flame Broiled Chicken Tenders (4pc): 145 calories, 6 grams fat, 54 calories from fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams added sugar, 370mg sodium.
MOTT’S® Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce: 50 calories 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams added sugar, 0mg sodium.
Hershey's 1% Low Fat White Milk: 110 calories, 2.5 grams fat, 22.5 calories from fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 0 grams added sugar, 130mg sodium.
The total for the above Kids Meal would be 305 calories, 8.5g fat, 76.5 calories from fat, 3g saturated fat, 0g added sugar, 500mg sodium.

The 'pledge' is scheduled to take effect by January 1, 2008. You can read the entire pledge on Burger King's website.

DQ FlameThrower ad a hit

Dairy Queen has unleashed a new TV ad touting their FlameThrower Grill Burger and the ad is getting rave reviews on YouTube. You can watch it below.

DQ's FlameThrower chicken sandwich comes crispy or grilled or you can get the 1/4 pound or 1/2 pound burger version. They all have pepper jack cheese, 2 slices of jalapeño bacon, tomato, lettuce and DQ's "serious" FlameThrower sauce.

What the ad doesn't mention, of course, is that all these sandwiches (except the grilled chicken version) have high amounts of trans fats (see below).

The 1/2 pound FlameThrower GrillBurger has 1030 calories, 650 calories from fat, 73 g total fat, 23 g saturated fat, 3.5 g trans fat (that's a lot!), 145 mg cholesterol, 2020 mg sodium, 41 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 9 g sugars, 53 g protein.

The 1/4 pound FlameThrower GrillBurger has 780 calories, 490 calories from fat, 54 g total fat, 14 g saturated fat, 3 g trans fat (again, that's a lot of trans fat), 90 mg cholesterol, 1490 mg sodium, 41 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 9 g sugars, 33 g protein.

The Crispy FlameThrower Chicken Sandwich has 840 calories, 510 calories from fat, 56 g fat, 11 g saturated fat, 5.5 g trans fat (that's huge; it's as much as the FDA recommends you have in a day), 100 mg cholesterol, 1860 mg sodium, 51 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 8 g sugars, 33 g protein.

The Grilled FlameThrower Chicken Sandwich has 580 calories, 320 calories from fat, 35 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, no trans fat (because it's grilled), 100 mg cholesterol, 1590 mg sodium, 53 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 34 g protein.

Chick-fil-a's new shake for St. Patrick's day

Chick-fil-a will be introducing a new hand-spun Mint Cookies and Cream Milkshake starting on St. Patrick's Day (March 17). It will be available through June 30th.

The new shake includes Oreo cookies and mint flavoring and will be available in a 20 oz. cup and priced at $2.79.

“The Mint Cookies and Cream Milkshake is just plain fun,” said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand development. “Following last year’s highly successful rollout of Hand-Spun Milkshakes, we wanted to let our customers know that we appreciate their enthusiastic support of the shakes – and that we have a few surprises in store for them!”

Chick-fil-a's Cookies and Cream Milkshake has 790 calories, 300 calories from fat, 33g total fat, 18g saturated fat, .5g trans fat 95mg cholesterol, 660mg sodium, 111g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, and 100g sugars.

KFC asks Pope to bless their fish

For the first time KFC is going to serve fish. The KFC Fish Snacker is "An Alaskan Pollock fish filet breaded and fried to golden perfection, then topped with tangy tartar sauce and served on a warm sesame seed bun.

Just in time for Lent, KFC says the new sandwich "is ideal for American Catholics who want to observe Lenten season traditions while still leading their busy, modern lifestyles."

"People can enjoy the flavor of the new Fish Snacker any day of the week, but we believe it will be especially popular on Fridays," said James O'Reilly, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC.

In a PR move to promote the new fish sandwich, KFC has concocted a publicity stunt that at least borders on sacrilegious: they've officially asked the Pope (yes, the one in Rome with the big hat) to bless their new sandwich.

According to KFC's press release: "The company has asked the Pope himself for his blessing, with KFC President Gregg Dedrick sending a personal letter to the Vatican... The company has turned to Pope Benedict XVI, beseeching him to bestow his Papal blessing for this innovative new menu item."

It is unlikely they will hear back from Pope Benedict unless the Catholic Church somehow doesn't realize when they're being used for cheap publicity.

The KFC Fish Snacker has 280 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 520 mg sodium, 42 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 5 grams sugars, and 13 grams of protein.

Update: Check out this fake interview with the Pope about KFC at The Ointment.

Fatburger goes trans-fat-free

They seem to all be falling in line with the trans-fat-free movement. Now, burger chain Fatburger, has now gone trans-fat-free, too:

"On January 1st, Fatburger began eliminating trans fat from its menu items. The plan includes transitioning to trans-fat free frying oil in all 83 locations. The new soy bean-based oil will be used to prepare fried offerings, including Fat and Skinny Fries and homemade onion rings."
"Our goal is to provide our guests with the high quality and great taste that they know and love from Fatburger," said Elaine Patel, vice president of marketing for Fatburger.

Fatburger is also promoting the lean, safe beef that they use in their burgers:

Fatburger also uses lean beef. The fresh, 100 percent pure lean beef is ground fresh daily and USDA inspected. All Fatburger beef is tested for toxins and other containments. Each patty is also tested to ensure it is only comprised of approximately 18 percent fat, proving that the “Fat” in Fatburger refers to the size of the burgers.

CA bill seeks nutrition posting

Looks like California might be the first state to require the posting of nutritional data in fast food (and other chain) restaurants. A bill as been introduced in the California Senate by Sen. Carole Migden.

from the San Francisco Chronicle:

Migden, D-San Francisco, introduced legislation Tuesday that would require chain restaurants to post calorie counts for their food in plain view -- that is, on menus and menu boards. The legislation defines chains as restaurants that have five outlets in California, or have one in the state but at least 10 nationwide.

Citing the nation's high obesity rate -- 30 percent of adults over age 20 are obese, according to the National Center for Health Statistics -- Migden argued that consumers should be allowed to make informed choices.

This won't be much trouble for the big chains (except Quizno's, since they won't tell anyone what's in their sandwiches), but it might be hard for the smaller chains that will have to spend the money on laboratory fees (to calculate the data) and signs. It might be more reasonable to limit the requirement to chains with 20+ locations. Just as important might be to require disclosure of those items that have trans fat or high fructose corn syrup.

BK begins trans-fat-free testing, too

Following just days after McDonald's announced their limited introduction of a new trans-fat-free cooking oil for their fries, Burger King has announced their own "in-restaurant testing with several trans fat-free cooking oils."

"We have been working for more than two years to identify trans fat-free cooking oils," said Schaufelberger. "Our goal has been to identify trans fat-free oils that allow for the same great taste and texture quality."

BK wants to ensure availability of the new oil before rolling it out in all their restaurants: "Before making promises to our consumers, we want to be certain that we could deliver the taste, texture and quality that our restaurant guests expect from the Burger King brand," he said. "We also wanted to ensure that the oils were a healthier alternative."

BK says they will meet New York City trans fat-free requirements in advance of its national rollout.

McDonald's adds new Snack Wrap

McDonald's has added to their 'snack wrap' line with the new Honey Mustard Snack Wrap. In addition to the new flavor, McDonald's portable wraps are now available in both grilled and crispy choices.

The new Honey Mustard Snack Wrap, made with either grilled or crispy, chicken breast meat, cheddar jack cheese, crisp lettuce and a sweet and tangy Honey Mustard sauce, wrapped inside a soft flour tortilla, will be offered for a promotional period at $1.29 at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide.

"Offering our customers a variety of great tasting, top quality food choices at a value is always a key priority for McDonald's," said Don Thompson, President, McDonald's USA. "As the eating habits of people change and snacking becomes a way of life for many consumers, McDonald's is committed to offering our customers more portable, high quality food options that fit their needs."

The new Honey Mustard Snack Wrap has 320 calories, 15 grams of fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat, 1 gram trans fat, 30 grams cholesterol, 750 mg sodium, 34 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, and 14 grams protein.

And there it is, more trans fat. You'd think McDonald's would at least eliminate trans fat from the NEW items! A look at the ingredients list for the chicken used in the wrap reveals the trans fat culprits: hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and partially hydrogenated corn oil with TBHQ.

Some McDonald's go trans fat free

McDonald's has selected a new trans-fat-free oil for their french fries, but they're not saying where it is being used. The new oil is being used in 1,200 undisclosed restaurants of their 13,700 total restaurants.

For McDonald's it's always about mitigating potential liability (with healthy food offerings that no one eats and by promoting a 'healthy lifestyle' that everyone ignores...people don't eat at McDonald's for their health) and putting a healthy PR spin on their operations (by hiring 'professionals' like personal trainer Bob Greene and Dr. Dean Ornish to legitimize their 'healthy image'). Their refusal to reveal where the new trans-fat-free oil is already being used is part of this mindset. They get the positive PR of eliminating trans-fat from (some of) their fries without having to offer full disclosure and risk groups and/or individuals complaining that a given McDonald's doesn't offer the healthier fries.

Not to mention the fact that I'm sure McDonald's has thousands of gallons of the old trans-fat-rich oil that they want to be sure they use up before they move on to something that's better for your health...after all, their bottom line always comes first.

NYC trans fat ban finalized

The proposed ban on trans fat in New York City restaurants I wrote about in September is now a reality.

NYC health officials approved the ban on artificial trans fats in city restaurants on Tuesday. The Big Apple is the first US city to impose such a ban, although Chicago has talked about it, too.

NYC's ban, unanimously approved by the city Board of Health, requires restaurants to stop frying with oils containing artificial trans fat within about six months and to keep it out of all foods by July 2008.

Trans fats are terrible for you and restaurants shouldn't be using the hydrogenated oils that put them in food, but do we really need the government telling us what to eat? I agree that restaurants should definitely be required to disclose prominently that their food had trans fats, but I'm not sure laws banning them altogether are necessary.

Arby's reduces trans fats

Arby's has finally reduced the trans fat in their fries.

In a press release, Arby's announced that they have "has started serving French Fries with zero grams of trans fat as calculated under FDA nutrition labeling regulations. The company is switching to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil, and has worked with its French Fry suppliers to eliminate the use of hydrogenated oil during the par-frying process at the supplier level. This makes Arby’s the first national fast food chain in the U.S. to announce the elimination of trans fat oils in French Fries from supplier to restaurant."

“We are committed to meeting our customers’ needs through great tasting and innovative products,” said Roland Smith, CEO, Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. “In the case of trans fats, we are not only switching to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil in our restaurants, we have also removed trans fats from the French Fry par-frying process at our suppliers’ processing plants. This is exceptional for us because we can do this while maintaining the great French Fry flavor our customers expect.”

Menu Item                      Original TFAs         New TFAs
3-Pack Chicken Tenders         2                     0
5-Pack Chicken Tenders         3                     0
Small Curly Fries              3                     0
Medium Curly Fries             4                     0
Large Curly Fries              6                     1

The new French Fries and cooking oil are scheduled to be in all U.S. Arby’s locations by May 1, 2007.

Jack's holiday shakes and antenna ball

Jack in the Box has begun celebrating the holidays with 2 seasonal menu items and a free holiday antenna ball.

Jack has brought back the Pumpkin Pie Shake and the Egg Nog Shake. A free holiday antenna ball is yours with the purchase of either of these shakes (otherwise the holiday antenna ball is 99 cents).

Jack is proud to point out that these shakes are made with real ice cream, but a little less proud to admit that they contain trans fats (hopefully they'll eliminate those soon).

“We’ve developed an amazing array of unique shake flavors over the years, and the Pumpkin Pie and Egg Nog shakes are popular standouts in the category,” said Teka O’Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “We’re excited to bring them back this season, along with our Holiday Antenna Ball, as a gift to our guests.”

The shakes are available in 16 and 24 oz sizes and priced at $2.49 and $2.99 respectively.

The large (24 oz) Egg Nog Shake has 1210 calories, 510 calories from fat, 57 grams of fat, 39 grams of saturated fat, 3 grams of trans fat (!), 190 mg of cholesterol, 390 mg sodium, 152 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 110 grams of sugars, and 18 grams of protein. (Divide the above by 1.39 for the approximate info for the smaller 16 oz Egg Nog Shake.)

The large (24 oz) Pumpkin Pie Shake has 1170 calories, 510 calories from fat, 51 grams of fat, 29 grams of saturated fat, 2.5 grams of trans fat, 190 mg cholesterol, 410 mg sodium, 144 grams carbs, 1 gram fiber, 123 grams sugars, and 18 grams protein. (Divide the above by 1.36 for the 16 oz Pumpkin Pie Shake.)

Bad odds for McDonald's Monopoly

McDonald's Monopoly game promotion is back and will again increase revenues for the fast food giant as those who ignore the odds flock to their neighborhood McDonald's to gorge themselves for loosing game pieces!

The odds of winning a Small McFlurry, a Medium 'trans fat' Fries or a Breakfast Sandwich are "approximately 1 in 7.2." So you should win something every 7th time you eat at McD.

Not so great are the odds of winning the $50 prize: approximately 1 in 91,697.

Odds of winning a Sony Home theater and Flat Panel HDTV: about 1 in 91,697,000. That's less than winning a few million in the Texas Lottery (which is 1 in 25,827,165).

The odds are even worse for the trip for two to Vegas: 1 in 114,621,250.

The odds are 3.5 billion to 1 against you winning a $50,000 prize.

And as for the $5 million grand prize: "Odds of winning are approximately 1 in 41,497,391,309." Wow! For the sake of comparison, the odds of winning the Powerball Lottery is 1 in 146,107,962. Much, much better.


Of course, for several years of McD's Monopoly game you had no chance at all of winning a big prize. That's because the winning pieces were horded by those working on the inside.

But McDonald's has supposedly worked out new security procedures since the fraud was discovered in 2001.

During those years almost all the large prizes, totalling $24 million, went to those in on the scheme.

Jack's steak ciabatta sandwich

Jack in the Box has introduced another sandwich to their Ciabatta line, the Sirloin Steak 'n' Cheddar Ciabatta.

The sandwich features sirloin steak on toasted ciabatta bread with cheddar cheese, red onions, tomatoes and lettuce topped with peppercorn mayo.

It sells for $4.59 at most US Jack in the Box locations.

Jack's Sirloin Steak 'n' Cheddar Ciabatta has 770 calories, 339 calories from fat, 37 g of fat, 8 g saturated fat, .4 g trans fat, 112 mg cholesterol, 1307 mg sodium, 65 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 5 g sugars, 43 g protein.

McD, BK sued over cooked meat

As if hydrogenated oils (trans fat) and HFCS weren't scary enough, now a doctors group, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, is bringing attention to the carcinogenic PhIP (heterocyclic amines) found in grilled chicken at fast food restaurants.

Of course, the best way to bring attention to something is to file a lawsuit, right? So that's what they've done. They're suing McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse and TGI Friday's because they identified the PhIP in their chicken products.

The problem is, these heterocyclic amine (HCA) compounds are found in almost all meats cooked at a high temperatures. They form when amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and creatine (a chemical found in muscles) react at high cooking temperatures. But heck, let's sue the restaurants anyway!

I realize the lawsuit is just a tactic to bring about public awareness of this carcinogen, and it works because here I am writing about it (as did Forbes), but I think it is an abuse of our legal system. The courts are not every special interest group's own public relations firm.

If you're concerned about HCA compounds in your food and want to learn about methods for cooking meat that reduce the amount created, please visit this page at the National Cancer Institute.

Update: These extremist groups are getting so good at hiding their agendas I almost missed it; this PCRM is just a front for PETA (aka Ingrid's cult). So not only are they abusing our legal system with this lawsuit, but they're doing it under false pretenses.

NY may ban trans fat

New York appears to be joining Chicago with a desire to ban trans fat from the city's restaurants.

The ban would prohibit restaurants from using partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (or any products than contain it), the source of artificial trans fat.

New York Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden acknowledged that the ban would be a challenge for restaurants, but said, "it is a dangerous and unnecessary ingredient," Frieden said. "No one will miss it when it's gone."

The ban will pose a serious problem for some NY fast food restaurants that use trans fats such as McDonald's, KFC and Dunkin' Donuts. Whether this should be a law or not, it is about time the fast food chains eliminate trans fat of their own accord, as Wendy's has done.

McDonald's postpones food labelling in Canada

McDonald's announced last October that it planned to begin putting nutritional information on their food packaging in Canada. Yesterday they announced their plans would have to be delayed.

McDonald's excuse for the delay? They can't find a reliable source of trans fat free cooking oil.

They've said their afraid that they could run out of trans fat free oil and then their nutrition data wouldn't be accurate.

Most likely if McDonald's had begun eliminating trans fat when they said they would they would have found a supplier by now. But as we know, McDonald's made their trans fat promise over 5 years ago (in 2002) and have since increased the amount of trans fat they're reporting and have been successfully sued for negligence over their trans fat use.

Of course, the obvious solution would be to put the current, trans fat laden nutrition data on the packaging, but that might scare the informed consumer just a little too much!

(The labeling would likely have resembled the packaging unveiled at the Olympic games earlier this year; as shown.)

New KFC Snacker and promo

KFC introduced a new 'Snacker' sandwich this month along with another 'hidden message' TV ad.

The new sandwich is the KFC Ultimate Cheese Snacker. It "features KFC's signature, 100 percent chicken breast strip, covered in a blend of cheddar and Swiss cheeses, topped with crisp lettuce and served on a warm sesame seed bun."

The Cheese Snacker has 280 calories, 11 g fat, 2.5 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 290 mg sodium, 32 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 5 g sugars, and 15 g protein. There's that trans fat again. Get with the program KFC and eliminate that trans fat (like Wendy's did).

If you don't feel like taping TV ads just so you can watch them in slow-motion frame by frame to find a hidden message, I'll just tell you what it is: "traffic jam". That's what you'll need to enter on KFC's Cheese Snacker page before October 7 in order to enter the sweepstakes and possibly get a coupon in the mail.

There's no guarantee you'll get a coupon. Here's the message you get after you enter your name, mailing address, e-mail address and date of birth: "If you are among the 1,000 eligible participants a day, you will receive a $1 gift check (via US Mail) worth $1.00 redeemable toward the purchase of products at participating KFC restaurants"

DQ's Blizzard of the month

In case you didn't know it, Dairy Queen has a new Blizzard of the Month each month. You can check the Blizzard of the Month page to see what it is each month.

This month's featured Blizzard is the Chocolate Malt Crunch.

From DQ: "By combining a mouthwatering mixture of chocolate, malt and scrumptious cookie crumbles with a soothing portion of creamy vanilla soft serve, the Chocolate Malt Crunch Blizzard satisfies customer needs for a deliciously invigorating taste."

The average price of the Chocolate Malt Crunch Blizzard is $2.59 for the 12 oz., $3.00 for the 16 oz. and $3.50 for the 21 oz.

According to DQ, malted milkshakes were invented in 1922 by a soda jerk at a Walgreens drug store in Chicago. Today, malted milk is found in a variety of sweet treats, including a chocolate candy confection known as malted milk balls, as well as in malted waffles and pancakes. Malted milk has also long been used as an ice cream topping.

For fans of the Blizzard, DQ offers the Blizzard Fan Club, now boasting over 650,000 members.

A medium (16 oz) Chocolate Malt Crunch Blizzard has 680 calories, 170 calories from fat, 19 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 40 mg cholesterol, 270 mg sodium, 86 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 70 g sugars, 12 g protein.

Jack adds new breakfast biscuits

Jack in the Box has added two new Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwiches to their breakfast menu: the Bacon, Egg and Cheese and the Sausage, Egg and Cheese.

They both feature an egg, American cheese and a choice of either bacon or sausage tucked into a buttermilk biscuit. Guests can also order Buttermilk Biscuits á la carte with a side of butter and jam.

“With new players entering the breakfast market and long-time competitors building up their breakfast menus, it’s important that we continue to offer high-quality products that appeal to a variety of consumers,” said Teka O’Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box. “Our Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwiches offer something for everyone – they’re loaded with hearty ingredients, have great flavor and are easy to eat while sitting in rush hour traffic.”

Jack in the Box claims to be "the first fast-food chain to offer a breakfast sandwich way back in 1969."

Jack in the Box has also added Minute Maid Orange Juice to its breakfast menu. And unlike most other fast food restaurants, Jack offers their breakfast menu all day long, not just in the morning.

Unfortunately, both breakfast biscuit sandwiches are loaded with trans fat. The Sausage version has significantly more calories and fat; 310 more calories and 30 more grams of fat.

The Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit has 430 calories, 220 calories from fat, 25 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 5 g trans fat, 220 mg cholesterol, 1100 mg sodium, 34 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 3 g sugars, 17 g protein. The Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit has 740 calories, 490 calories from fat, 55 g fat, 17 g saturated fat, 6 g trans fat, 280 mg cholesterol, 1430 mg sodium, 35 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 3 g sugars, 27 g protein.

Jack’s new Buttermilk Biscuit sandwiches are $1.99 and Minute Maid Orange Juice is $1.49.

Wendy's cooking with trans fat free oil

I realize I mentioned this yesterday in my post about Wendy's new Frescata Italiana sandwich and back in June when they announced the change, but it bears repeating now that the switch is complete.

Wendy's is now cooking with oil that has zero grams of trans fat per serving at its 6,000 U.S. restaurants.

"Wendy's has kept its promise to its customers," said Wendy's Interim CEO Kerrii Anderson. "After two years of research and development, we said in June that we would convert to the new cooking oil by the end of August. We're proud to announce that this process is now complete."

With the move, Wendy's becomes the first major quick service restaurant chain to switch to a non-hydrogenated cooking oil for its French fries and chicken items.

New fast food Frescata at Wendy's

Wendy's has added another sandwich to their Frescata line-up.

The Frescata Italiana is made with "Black Forest ham, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, Romaine lettuce and roasted red peppers on freshly-baked artisan bread with sun-dried tomato vinaigrette dressing."

It's worth noting that unlike the 2 other new sandwiches we've looked at this week (from Hardee's and Jack) this one has zero trans fats and quite a few less calories, too. So unlike McDonald's, Wendy's is sticking to their trans fat pledge.

On the other hand, I was disappointed to see HFCS as an ingredient again. This time it's in the sandwich's Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette.

Wendy's Frescata Italiana has 520 calories, 230 calories from fat, 25 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 90 mg cholesterol, 1540 mg sodium, 49 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 6 g sugars, 26 g protein.

The sandwich will be available through September. It's priced at $3.49 la carte, or $4.99 as a combo choice. National advertising starts on Sept. 4th.

KFC's Moms Matter! PR move

KFC has formed an 'advisory board' called "Moms Matter!" to help promote a family friendly image for KFC.

The Advisory Board will meet in person bi-annually, hold quarterly conference calls and host monthly dinner meetings in their hometowns to "gain information and advise KFC on everything from trends that affect families to new product ideas."

"Moms have relied on our popular, meal-building menu items for years and now we're turning to them for ideas on how KFC can be even more helpful with managing their busy lifestyles," says Scott Bergren, executive vice president of marketing for KFC.

You would suspect that the first suggestion any mom that cares about her family would make is that KFC reduce or eliminate the high levels of trans fats in their menu items. But even if they do, I doubt it will be mentioned in the meetings' public reports!

via The Slug

Jack's outlaw sandwiches

Jack in the Box has introduced two new western themed sandwiches, the Outlaw Burger and the Outlaw Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

They feature, respectively, either a jumbo beef patty or spicy crispy chicken breast with fried onion rings, slices of bacon, slices of American cheese, lettuce and tomatoes topped with KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce served on a toasted sesame bun.

“Consumers are looking for unique tastes and options when they dine out,” said Teka O’Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions at Jack in the Box. “Offering our guests bold barbecue flavor with the choice of beef or chicken answers both demands.”

UPDATE: Jack in the Box was nice enough to e-mail nutritional data for these sandwiches today. The burger has 820 calories, 380 calories from fat, 42 grams fat, 17 grams saturated fat, 4 grams trans fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 1610 mg sodium, 80 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 23 grams sugars, and 30 grams protein. The chicken sandwich has 780 calories, 290 calories from fat, 32 grams fat, 10 grams saturated fat, 5 grams trans fat, 70 mg cholesterol, 1930 mg sodium, 92 grams carbs, 5 grams fiber, 23 grams sugars, and 33 grams protein. The high sugar levels are probably due to the high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the bun and the KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce.

New 'Nacho Crunch' burrito at Taco Bell

Taco Bell will debut today it's new Nacho Crunch Grilled Stuft Burrito. This is the latest edition to Taco Bell's 'Grilled Stuft Burrito' line of burritos first introduced in 2001.

The Nacho Crunch Grilled Stuft Burrito is filled with carne asada or grilled, marinated all white meat chicken, nacho cheese sauce, beans and crunchy red tortilla strips, green onions and sour cream. It is available at participating locations for $2.99. Television ads supporting the debut announce that "crunchy makes it fun."

The new burrito has 730 Calories, 270 calories from fat, 31 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 5 grams of trans fat, 50 mg cholesterol, 1700 mg sodium, 84 grams carbs, 7 grams dietary fiber, 7 grams sugars, 29 grams protein.

McDonald's introduces snack wrap

McDonald's introduced their new "Snack Wrap" yesterday. They have been testing it in several markets for some time now.

It is unclear if this will be a permanent menu edition or a special promo or seasonal item like the McRib. There is currently no nutritional information available for it.

The Snack Wrap is: crispy chicken, cheddar jack cheese, lettuce and ranch sauce wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. It sells for $1.29.

UPDATE: Nutrition information is now available. The Snack Wrap has 330 calories, 16 grams of fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 2 grams trans fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 780 mg sodium, 33 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 2 grams sugars, and 14 grams protein.

Alderman calls out CEOs over trans fat

The Chicago alderman, Edward Burke, who has called for a city-wide ban on trans fat, has now called for the CEOs of the major fast food chains to appear before the City Council and answer for their use of trans fat.

He specifically ask for Jim Skinner of McDonald's, John W. Chidsey of Burger King Corp. and David C. Novak of Yum Brands Inc., the parent company of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken to come and explain "why they continue to use an unhealthy process when they know full well that they're putting their customers at risk."

Burke was particularly critical of McDonald's for promising to eliminate trans fat over 4 years ago and still having made little progress to date.

He praised Wendy's, though, for doing just that and invited Wendy's interim CEO, Kerrii Anderson, to address the council on just "how easy it was to make the change." [via nwitimes.com]

Jack's new value meal

Jack in the Box has introduced a new value-priced combo meal they're calling "The Big Deal." The meal includes a chicken sandwich, two beef tacos and a 20-ounce beverage for $2.59.

This is an addition to Jack's existing value menu. Jack is promoting this combo as a "response to rising gas prices," because "penny pinching has become a necessity for many Americans."

“Value is definitely top of mind for many consumers,” said Teka O’Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box. “The Big Deal is ideal for our guests who want a variety of menu items for a price that doesn’t squeeze their wallet.”

This value combo meal may be low-priced, but it isn't low-calorie! It has 892 calories, 327 calories from fat, 37 grams of fat, 11 grams saturated fat, 4.3 grams trans fat, 63 mg cholesterol, 1274 mg sodium, 114 grams carbs, 6 grams fiber, 58 grams sugars, and 25 grams protein. (These totals are calculated with Coke Classic as the 20 oz. beverage.)

Subway introduces Bourbon Chicken sandwich

Subway has introduced a new toasted sandwich via their Subway Dinner Theater website (a site 'hosted' by former SNL actor Jon Lovitz). The new sandwich is called the Bourbon Chicken Sandwich.

The Bourbon Chicken sandwich is a "fresh Toasted sandwich of all white meat chicken strips, glazed with a non-alcoholic, Bourbon Street-inspired sauce that perfectly complements the chicken, all topped by your favorite vegetables, and placed on your choice of freshly baked, gourmet breads."

Since Subway does publish nutrition data for their sandwiches (unlike Quizno's!), I'll share them here. The 258 gram 6" Bourbon Chicken has 350 calories, 45 calories from fat, 5 grams of fat 1.5 grams saturated fat, no trans fat, 50 mg cholesterol, 1020 mg sodium, 54 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 16 grams sugars, 25 grams protein.

BK Stackers and bottled milk

Burger King's BK Stackers come in 3 varieties: double, triple and quadruple layers of beef and cheese. "It's the flame-broiled meat lover's burger and it's here to stay - no veggie allowed."

BK Stackers Quad is 4 beef patties, 4 slices of American cheese, 8 strips of bacon, and BK Stacker Sauce (featuring high fructose corn syrup!) all on a sesame seed bun. It weighs 311 grams and has 1000 calories, 620 calories from fat, 68 grams of fat, 30 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of the dreaded trans fat, 240 mg of cholesterol, 1800 mg of sodium, 34 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 6 grams of sugars and 62 grams of protein.

UPDATE: The BK Stacker is a permanent addition to the menu and is now available at all participating restaurants. The BK Double Stacker sandwich is available at a suggested price of $2.49, the BK Triple Stacker at $3.29 and the BK Quad Stacker at $3.99.

In other Burger King news, BK is now offering milk in re-sealable, eight-ounce plastic bottles. It is offering 1% white and chocolate milk with the Hershey’s label. According to AgWeb, the dairy industry has been pushing for these new bottles because they determined that "customers would choose milk more often when it was offered in fun, attractive packaging and in different flavors."

Chicago alderman seeks to ban trans fat

A Chicago alderman, Edward Burke, has proposed a new city ordinance that would ban the use of trans fat in all restaurants. If this rule were enacted it would mean the end of McDonald's french fries, and scores of other fast food made with trans fat, in the city of Chicago.

"Chicago has the opportunity to take a bold step and protect its citizens from the ravages of unhealthy trans fats by banning their use in restaurants," said Burke.

Colleen McShane, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said some of the city's mom-and-pop restaurants could have difficulty complying with an ordinance requiring they use more expensive oil.

"I don't think the government needs to come in and regulate this," she said. "When the consumer is educated, the consumer will demand it, and the restaurants will respond."

Public outcry over trans fat has reached a fever pitch since special-interest-activist-lawyer-group CSPI decided to sue KFC over its use of trans fat.

Long John Silver's Fishbites

Long John Silver's has introduced new Parmesan Crusted Fish Bites, 'bites' of Alaskan white fish, surrounded by crispy breading with Parmesan. The Snack Box size, which has a 99 gram serving size, has 260 calories, 15 grams of fats (3.5g saturated fat, 6g trans fat), 40 mg cholesterol, 610 mg sodium, 17 grams carbs, 2 grams fiber, no sugars and 14 grams protein.

The Parmesan Crusted Fish Bites come in a portable Snack Box for $1.99; or a Combo, which includes Fish Bites, fries, hushpuppies and a medium drink for $4.99; or the Big Bites Platter includes Fish Bites, Popcorn Shrimp, a piece of Batter-Dipped Fish, fries, slaw and hushpuppies for $6.99. A Kid's Meal with Fish Bites, fries, a hushpuppy and a Kid's Drink is just $2.99.

Fast food fat worse than 'healthier' fat

Want a big fat belly? Eat lots of fast food fried in trans fats. The primary source of trans fat in Americans' diet is fast food.

Trans fats make you fatter than other foods with the same number of calories -- but that's not all. Researchers at Wake Forest University find that trans fats increase the amount of fat around the belly. They do this not just by adding new fat, but also by moving fat from other areas to the belly.

"Trans fat is worse than anticipated," Wake Forest researcher Lawrence L. Rudel, PhD, says in a news release. "Diets rich in trans fat cause a redistribution of fat tissue into the abdomen and lead to a higher body weight even when the total dietary calories are controlled."

see: WebMD, New Scientist, CalorieLab

Another obesity lawsuit. Target: KFC

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI, a 'watchdog group' also called America's "food police," but really just a group lawyers) filed a lawsuit Tuesday to try to stop KFC from using partially hydrogenated oil in fried chicken and other dishes. Partially hydrogenated oil is the main contributor of trans fat in fried foods.

KFC, a subsidiary Yum Brands Inc., called the lawsuit "frivolous."

The back-up objective of the suit (if they fail to force KFC to stop using the oil) is to require KFC to post signs notifying customers that their food is high in trans fat.

These lawyers have no faith in Americans' ability to make decisions for themselves. I don't think KFC should be able to hide the fact that they use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil or that some of their food is high in trans fat, but they don't hide it: it's all available to the public on KFC's website and in their restaurants (and also, on my website and in my book.)

Besides telling the restaurant what to do, the lawsuit seeks attorney's fees. CSPI is listed as one of the attorneys so that's how they get paid.

But be not mislead! Many of KFC's menu items ARE high in trans fat and most everyone agrees that too much trans fat will clog your arteries and kill you. Per KFC's own nutrition calculator: one Extra Crispy breast has 4.5 grams of trans fat and their Pot Pie contains 14 grams of trans fat. The suggested limit for trans fat is 2 grams per day.

Update: ABC News has published an interesting article on this issue with the results of their poll which indicates "most Americans have a free-will mind-set. Asked if KFC should offer more healthy options by changing its menu items, 2,652 readers voted that KFC should be left alone while 951 voted that the menu needs to be changed."

Wendy's cuts trans fat

Wendy's is being applauded for their switch to a non-hydrogenated cooking oil. The new oil, used for cooking French fries and breaded chicken items, will result in a significant reduction of trans fat.

Wendy's will begin using the new corn and soy oil in all their North American restaurants this summer.

Wendy's breaded chicken sandwiches, nuggets and strips will have zero grams of trans fat. Trans fats in French fry offerings will range from zero to 0.5 grams depending on size. Kids' Meal nuggets and fries will have zero grams of trans fat.

This is a step in the healthy direction for Wendy's who, as we reported in December, pulled their healthy fruit salad because of slow sales.

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that individuals substitute mono and polyunsaturated fats for saturated fats, and consume as little trans fat as possible as part of a healthful diet.

Now McDonald's admits allergens in fries

Less than a week after admitting that their french fries have a third more trans fat than they had previously reported, McDonald's is now admitting to potential allergens in the fries.

They've added "Contains wheat and milk ingredients" this month to the french fries listing on its Web site.

Evidently, their potato suppliers remove all wheat and dairy proteins, such as gluten, which can cause allergic reactions, but the flavoring agent in the cooking oil is a derivative of wheat and dairy ingredients. So it all comes back to the oil... trans fat, wheat, dairy, gluten... it's all in there!

Calling their fries "gluten free" when they weren't will be upsetting to the many people with gluten allergies including the 2 million Americans with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten.

Update (2/19): Three lawsuits have already been filed against McDonald's following their disclosure: a vegan, a person with celiac disease and a person with a gluten allergy (...all walked into a bar... oh wait, this isn't a joke!) have sued McDonald's.

I'm not a big fan of lawsuits, but these come closer to having merit than the 'obesity lawsuits.' McDonald's should be 'punished' in some fashion for their lies. In a perfect world the market would punish them because people would stop eating at McDonald's because they didn't trust them, but that rationale doesn't seem to work anymore.

But I'm not sure a vegan should win the lottery (so to speak) in a lawsuit against McDonald's over this. Anyway, what self-respecting vegan eats anything from McDonald's anyway, I wouldn't think they'd be a fan of all those chemical additives.

More trans fat in McD fries

McDonald's has increased the amount of trans fat they're reporting for their french fries instead of decreasing it as they promised to do in 2002. They've admited that they've been under-reporting the amount of trans fat in their fries by a third.

McDonald's now reports 8 grams of trans fat in a large order of their fries as opposed to the 6 grams previously reported.

"It makes it harder to trust McDonald's if they suddenly have strikingly different (trans fat) numbers," Michael Jackson, the executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

In 2002 McDonald's promised to reduce the amount of trans fat in their fries by half. In 2004 they were successfully sued for not fulfilling this promise and ordered to spend 1.5 million to promote their failure and donate $7 million to the American Heart Association.

Trans fats are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil in an effort to extend the shelf-life of products such as cooking oils. They are reported to increase levels of 'bad cholesterol' thereby increasing the risk of heart disease.

The six grams of trans fats previously reported by McDonald's was already slightly above the FDA's estimates for the average daily intake of trans fats in the average adult American's diet.

McDonald's french fries are among its products highest in trans fats. The only McDonald's products having more than eight grams of trans fats are its deluxe breakfast with 11 grams and the 10-piece chicken select strips, which has nine grams...at least according to what they're reporting.

[CNN]

Burgerville eliminates trans-fat

The Oregon & Washington burger chain, Burgerville, has annouced they have switched to trans-fat free cooking oil in all of their 39 locations. French fries, halibut, chicken strips and Walla Walla sweet onion rings, will now be prepared with a trans fat free canola oil.

McDonald's to pay $10.5 million in trans fat suit

A judge has approved a settlement requiring McDonald's to pay a total of about $10.5 million for failing to give adequate notice that it had delayed a highly publicized plan to reduce trans fat in its foods. McDonald's agreed to donate at least $7 million to the American Heart Association to publicize the dangers of trans fats and spend up to $1.5 million to publish notices telling consumers about the status of the chain's trans fat reduction plan. McDonald's announced is plan to reduce trans fat in their foods in February 2003, but so far have only reduced trans fats in fried chicken products. [AP]

McDonald's testing new fries

McDonald's is again testing new fries with less trans fatty acids at various restaurants around the country. They've been trying different cooking oils and methods since 2002 in an enormous effort to reduce trans fat without losing the famous flavor of their fries. In '02 when they announced their efforts people began to complain about how the fries tasted even before any changes had been made, so now they're more tight-lipped about the where, when and how of their testing and trials. McDonald's switched from beef tallow to partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in 1990. Currently a large order of fries has about the same amount of trans fat as 1.5 tablespoons of shortening.

Chicago Business -McD's fat secret: testing new fries

A Zero-Grams Trans Fat French Fry

The J.R. Simplot Company, the leading french fry innovator, introduces Infinity Fries - zero-grams trans fat french fries for foodservice.