McDonald's fries 'disastrous'

2006-02-10 09:16

Dave Carpenter

Chicago - McDonald's, the world's largest restaurant chain, said on Wednesday its french fries contain a third more trans fats than it previously thought, citing results of a new testing method it began using in December.

That means the level of potentially artery-clogging trans fat in a portion of large fries is 8g, up from 6g, with total fat increasing to 30g from 25g.

Often used by restaurants and in packaged foods, trans fats are thought to cause cholesterol problems and increase the risk of heart disease. The dietary guidelines for Americans that were issued by a government panel last year said people should consume as little trans fat as possible.

The disclosure comes as McDonald's Corp starts rolling out packaging in the United States containing facts about menu items' nutritional content - a move made voluntarily but with the fast-food industry under pressure from consumer groups and the government to provide more information.

Enhanced testing

McDonald's said it updated the nutrition info on its website last month as soon as it discovered the new level of trans fat. It explained the increase by saying an improvement in the testing process has made results more accurate.

"As part of our ongoing voluntary efforts to provide our customers with the best science-based information, we continually enhance our testing," said Cathy Kapica, global nutrition director for Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald's.

Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, called the change "quite a dramatic increase". He renewed the non-profit health advocacy group's call for McDonald's and other fast-food chains to make healthier food - and for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the use of partially hydrogenated oil, the source of trans fat.

Diverse menu

"Nutritionally it's a disastrous product," Jacobson said of fries. "McDonald's could fry in canola oil or other liquid oil" as it does in Australia, Denmark and Israel, he said.

Responding to the criticism, Kapica said the company is "very proud of our menu".

"It is important to note that McDonald's menu has a wide range of choice and variety, with an array of portion sizes, including three options with french fries - small, medium and large," she said. "Using these portion size options, along with our nutrition information, customers can continue to make informed decisions."

McDonald's spokesperson Anna Rozenich said tray liners and nutrition brochures containing trans fat and other info will be updated soon and the company website will reflect up-to-date information.

The FDA began mandating that packaged foods companies report trans fat levels last month, but the fast-food industry is not under similar requirements.

McDonald's shares rose 17c to $36.36 on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

www.mcdonalds.com

- AP