KFC has announced it is making the switch to trans-fat free cooking oil. My question then is: what took them so long?
Trans fats have since long been known for their harmful effects. For one, trans fat raise bad cholesterol levels while also lowering good cholesterol in the process. This fact has been known for a number of years now, and it is interesting that KFC only made the switch now. Only after their own customers pressed for it, may I add.
Just requesting a change from KFC was apparently not enough; the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non profit group, had to file a lawsuit against KFC regarding the trans fat content of their chicken. This lawsuit is now being withdrawn of course.
KFC released a statement saying that all of their restaurants in the United States and Canada will have switched to trans fat free cooking oil by April of 2007. The current system is being phased out and replaced by the new system, however many of the American restaurants have apparently already made the switch.
If you were not yet convinced of how much you should be avoiding trans fats, this probably will: trans fat belongs to the same category as food spoiled by a lack of refrigeration or rodent droppings, according to health officials. Yet, it is so common that the average American consumes just over 2 kilograms of trans fat a year!
To avoid being part of the average, i.e. to lower the amount of trans fats you consume, take careful note of product packaging. Many products are labeled as “trans fat free” and these should be your preferred choice over products without such a label.
On the back of the product you can also check the ingredients list. If trans fat is listed, avoid it. If you can’t, try to choose products with relatively low levels of trans fat. To determine what is ‘low’, look at how many calories come from the fats, or how many grams of trans fat per 100 grams of product you are consuming.
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