McDonald's Says Fries Have More Trans Fats

[OldDude]

McD's fries have 33% more transfat that previously thought, they are behind schedule on cutting transfat in half (or reneging on promise) and their stock goes up on this news? WTF?


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060209/...ZoBHNlYwM3NTE-

McDonald's Says Fries Have More Trans Fats
By DAVE CARPENTER, AP Business Writer
39 minutes ago

CHICAGO - McDonald's french fries just got fatter — by nutritional measurement. The world's largest restaurant chain said Wednesday its fries contain a third more trans fats than it previously knew, 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 eight grams, up from six, with total fat increasing to 30 grams from 25.

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 for its menu items that contain facts about their nutritional content — a move made voluntarily but with the fast-food industry under pressure from consumer groups and the government to provide more information.

McDonald's said it updated the nutrition info on its Web site 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, Ill.-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 nonprofit health advocacy group's call for McDonald's and other fast-food chains to make healthier food — and for the Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of partially hydrogenated oil, the source of trans fat. Trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil — a process called hydrogenation.

"Nutritionally it's a disastrous product," Jacobson said of the 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.

McDonald's has been reluctant to risk changing the taste of its iconic french fries. It pledged in September 2002 to switch to a new oil that would halve the level of harmful trans fatty acid in its fries. But it has delayed those plans, citing product quality and customer satisfaction as priorities while continuing testing.

McDonald's spokeswoman Anna Rozenich said tray liners and nutrition brochures containing trans fat and other info will be updated soon and the company Web site 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 17 cents to close at $36.36 Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

[jfoobar]

In related news, researchers have discovered that actress Sharon Tate was stabbed 57 times, not just 54 as previously thought.

[Mopower]

Who cares? If you eat enough to cause you problems you are probably a fat ass anyway. Moderation is key.

[SeekOnce]

After watching that extra on the Supersize Me dvd, I can never bring myself to eat those fries ever again anyway.

Yay for me I guess.

[Numanoid]

I'll bet you no one comes into this thread expecting a Sharon Tate stabbing reference. NO ONE!

[DVD Polizei]

Originally Posted by Mopower

Who cares? If you eat enough to cause you problems you are probably a fat ass anyway. Moderation is key.

That's pretty much what I think. A large fry here and there won't kill you. But eating a large fry, Big Mac, every single day, is certainly not good for you if you're not active and just sit at a desk.

[Giantrobo]

I'll bet the researchers are all smokers and speed on the highways....

[Breakfast with Girls]

Originally Posted by Numanoid

I'll bet you no one comes into this thread expecting a Sharon Tate stabbing reference. NO ONE!

I don't know about you, but I always expect a Sharon Tate stabbing reference. It turns out that I'm disappointed a lot.

[Bronkster]

Originally Posted by Numanoid

I'll bet you no one comes into this thread expecting a Sharon Tate stabbing reference. NO ONE!

But just knowing one can pop up at any time, helter skelter, is what makes this forum so much fun.

[jfoobar]

Originally Posted by Bronkster

But just knowing one can pop up at any time, helter skelter, is what makes this forum so much fun.

On that subject, Squeaky Fromme gives me the inexplicable hot.

[cultshock]

All of a sudden, I feel like listening to my Kasabian CD.

[Shagrath]

Originally Posted by SeekOnce

After watching that extra on the Supersize Me dvd, I can never bring myself to eat those fries ever again anyway.

I haven't watched the extras on Supersize Me yet, but after watching the main feature, I just *had* to go out and get a Big Mac!

I don't eat McD's that often, so maybe that's why the movie gave me the craving.

[Giles]

Originally Posted by SeekOnce

After watching that extra on the Supersize Me dvd, I can never bring myself to eat those fries ever again anyway.

Yay for me I guess.

for the most part the movie did the same for me as well. However I once in awhile get an ice cream.

[gimmepilotwings]

I just ate at McDonalds yesterday. If WORKING at a McDonalds will not deter me from eating there, a movie sure as well wont.

[ItsGreekToMe]

This kid hears. This kid don't care.

[OldDude]

Originally Posted by Mopower

Who cares? If you eat enough to cause you problems you are probably a fat ass anyway. Moderation is key.

The issue is not so much the total fat as the transfat. In three countries, Australia, Denmark and Israel, they are already forced to use a healthier oil. I wonder the fries really test inferior there? They are 3 years behind schedule on their promise to use healthier frying oils, and now their frying oil is 33% unhealthier than they previously admitted to.

I only use canola oil and olive oil for cooking and both taste fine (olive oil only in certain things as it has a noticable flavor, which goes well with some dishes, not others). Neither contains any transfat.

This goes along with a recent study that shows it is not so much the total fat in your diet that kills you, but the saturated and trans fat.

[FantasticVSDoom]

Originally Posted by Numanoid

I'll bet you no one comes into this thread expecting a Sharon Tate stabbing reference. NO ONE!

But shouldnt we? I mean we have such low expectations now a days that just goes to further prove the dumbing down of America!!!

[Vibiana]

Doesn't Mickey D's cook their fries in beef tallow or some other disgusting substance?

Anybody who eats at that place deserves what they get IMO. One reason I never had kids (other than hating them) is so I'd never have an excuse to eat at McDonald's.

*carving an X into my forehead in solidarity with Charlie*

[Giles]

Originally Posted by ItsGreekToMe

This kid hears. This kid don't care.

I bet the child has never eaten an apple in his life - it's really sad when the idea of eating fast food and being cheap results in people shoving this crap into their eating habits.

[milpool]

Tate = Tator = Potato = French Fries

[Tracer Bullet]

Originally Posted by ItsGreekToMe

That kid looks like the Michelin Man.

[gimmepilotwings]

Originally Posted by ItsGreekToMe

I bet the child has never eaten an apple in his life - it's really sad when the idea of eating fast food and being cheap results in people shoving this crap into their eating habits.

That is completely sad. My kids eat fast food all of the time, sometimes once a day. However, they also have healthy snacks, meals. That kids looks like he is eating two value meals worth of food.

Disgusting.

[Vibiana]

Originally Posted by gimmepilotwings

That is completely sad. My kids eat fast food all of the time, sometimes once a day. However, they also have healthy snacks, meals. That kids looks like he is eating two value meals worth of food.

Disgusting.

I have seen that picture a number of times and am praying that it is photoshopped, but ...

[Anubis2005X]

Originally Posted by Vibiana

I have seen that picture a number of times and am praying that it is photoshopped, but ...

It's real, unfortunately. I think I remember reading on a previous thread that they're both russian wrestlers. Kids wrestling for sport at that age? Crazy russians...

[Draven]

Now I'm hungry for McDonald's...