The world famous fried chicken fast food restaurant chain KFC Corp., which boasts of over 5,500 outlets globally, has announced that it has reached a firm decision to switch over to cooking oils which have no trans fats in it. Spokespersons for KFC have announced that all the outlets of KFC will use low linolenic soybean oil by April 2007.In a statement issued by KFC it was announced that changes have already been incorporated in many of their restaurants.
KFC’s decision was praised by a health group based in Washington DC which had earlier slapped a lawsuit against KFC in the U.S. over this issue pointing high levels of trans fats in the fried chicken and other recipes.Fats derived from foods are made up of fatty acids which may be polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, saturated and trans fatty acids. TFA's form when liquid oil is altered to solid fat.Trans fat also occurs naturally in beef and also in milk in minute quantities. A diet rich in trans fat is potentially more dangerous than a diet high on saturated fats. Studies show that intake of about five grams of trans fats daily for many years at a stretch can increase the risk of heart disease by 25 per cent.
Health experts warn that excessive consumption of trans fat, raises Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, and lowers HDL, the "good" cholesterol thus increasing the chances of clogging arteries of the heart.
Its understood that New York's Board of Health this December proposes to take a vote to decide on a ban of trans fats in foods from restaurants which will give a maximum of six months to restaurants to switch to oils which will ensure less than 0.5gms of trans fat in every serving of food.
Source-Medindia
MST
