Post by Mel Mel on Jun 13, 2006 18:55:46 GMT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. consumer group sued the operator of the KFC fried chicken restaurant chain on Tuesday to try and force it to stop frying foods in an artery- clogging fat.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, in a suit filed against Yum Brands Inc., said some KFC meals were "startlingly" high in harmful trans fat from the partially hydrogenated oils used for frying.
CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson said it was harder to avoid trans fat at KFC than at other fast-food restaurants.
"Trans fat is almost everywhere on this menu. By frying in such a dangerous oil, KFC is making its unsuspecting consumers' arteries Extra Crispy," he said, referring to a version of fried chicken sold by KFC.
The suit, which KFC called frivolous, seeks to force the chain to stop cooking with trans fat or prominently warn customers about the health hazard in the restaurants.
KFC "does not properly warn, disclose or even tell consumers that they are eating food items prepared with the worst oil available," CSPI said in a legal complaint filed in Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The group asked the court to order KFC to switch to a healthier frying oil. If that is ruled out, CSPI said the court should require signs at KFC outlets saying "KFC fried chicken and certain other foods contain trans fat, which promotes heart disease."
KFC spokeswoman Laurie Schalow said the company provided trans fat values and other nutrition details on its Web site and in restaurants and that all KFC products were safe to eat.
"This is a frivolous lawsuit completely without merit and we intend to vigorously defend our position," she said.
The company has been reviewing alternative oils, but must consider a number of issues such as availability, transportation and maintaining its chicken's taste, she added.
CSPI said a typical three-piece combo meal with an Extra Crispy chicken drumstick, two Extra Crispy thighs, potato wedges and a biscuit contained 15 grams of trans fat.
Health experts suggest minimizing trans fat consumption as much as possible. Research shows it raises LDL or "bad" cholesterol, while lowering HDL, the "good" cholesterol.
...continued...
news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060613/us_nm/food_kfc_dc
Also check out other articles on the same issue:
abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2070417&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2006/06/post_7.html
Very good reason to not eat there. The second article even says, "One three-piece Extra Crispy combo meal has 15 grams of trans fat, which is more trans fat than a person should have in one week, says the CSPI. "
ADVERTISEMENT
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, in a suit filed against Yum Brands Inc., said some KFC meals were "startlingly" high in harmful trans fat from the partially hydrogenated oils used for frying.
CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson said it was harder to avoid trans fat at KFC than at other fast-food restaurants.
"Trans fat is almost everywhere on this menu. By frying in such a dangerous oil, KFC is making its unsuspecting consumers' arteries Extra Crispy," he said, referring to a version of fried chicken sold by KFC.
The suit, which KFC called frivolous, seeks to force the chain to stop cooking with trans fat or prominently warn customers about the health hazard in the restaurants.
KFC "does not properly warn, disclose or even tell consumers that they are eating food items prepared with the worst oil available," CSPI said in a legal complaint filed in Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The group asked the court to order KFC to switch to a healthier frying oil. If that is ruled out, CSPI said the court should require signs at KFC outlets saying "KFC fried chicken and certain other foods contain trans fat, which promotes heart disease."
KFC spokeswoman Laurie Schalow said the company provided trans fat values and other nutrition details on its Web site and in restaurants and that all KFC products were safe to eat.
"This is a frivolous lawsuit completely without merit and we intend to vigorously defend our position," she said.
The company has been reviewing alternative oils, but must consider a number of issues such as availability, transportation and maintaining its chicken's taste, she added.
CSPI said a typical three-piece combo meal with an Extra Crispy chicken drumstick, two Extra Crispy thighs, potato wedges and a biscuit contained 15 grams of trans fat.
Health experts suggest minimizing trans fat consumption as much as possible. Research shows it raises LDL or "bad" cholesterol, while lowering HDL, the "good" cholesterol.
...continued...
news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060613/us_nm/food_kfc_dc
Also check out other articles on the same issue:
abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2070417&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2006/06/post_7.html
Very good reason to not eat there. The second article even says, "One three-piece Extra Crispy combo meal has 15 grams of trans fat, which is more trans fat than a person should have in one week, says the CSPI. "