Kentucky Fried Chicken Going Healthy?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

30 Oct 2006 07:58 PM

Stop the presses... I just heard that KFC is going healthy. Well, healthier anyway. No, they aren't introducing chicken shaped tofu and ditching the macaroni-and-cheese for grilled asparagus; rather the company announced today it is phasing out trans fats in cooking its Original Recipe and Extra Crispy fried chicken, Potato Wedges and other menu items, though it admits it hasn't found a good alternative yet for their yummy biscuits.

At today's news conference the restaurant chain said it would start using zero trans fat soybean oil system wide in the United States. The switch is estimated to be complete by early next year, though KFC said many of its approximately 5,500 restaurants already have switched.

KFC President Gregg Dedrick said there would be no change in the taste of the chicken and other food items.

"There is no compromise," he told reporters. "Nothing is more important to us than the quality of our food and preserving the terrific taste of our product."

Crispy Strips (my personal favorite), Wings, Boneless Wings, Buffalo and Crispy Snacker Sandwiches, Popcorn Chicken and Twisters also are part of the menu change.

The news came as welcome relief to health experts who took time today to reiterate that trans fats raise levels of artery-clogging cholesterol and contribute to heart disease. The switch was also applauded by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which sued the Louisville, Kentucky-based KFC in June over the trans fat content of its chicken. The Food and Drug Administration also chimed in about today's move citing the fact that, "artificial trans fat is so common that the average American eats 4.7 pounds of it a year."

For all you fast-food fans out there, KFC isn't the only business preparing for a trans-fat-free future. According to the FDA, Wendy's, the burger restaurant chain company, has already switched to a zero-trans fat oil, while fast-food leader McDonald's had announced that it intended to do so as well in 2003, but has yet to follow through.

Will today's announcement affect your fast-food eating habits?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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