[LindaT]

Maybe someone is listening..... hmmm

Fast-food chain to reduce fat in french fries by 48% with new cooking oil.
September 3, 2002: 9:34 AM EDT



NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - McDonald's Corp. is cutting the amount of fat in its french fries by nearly in half, the fast-food chain said Tuesday as it moves to make all its fried menu items healthier.

The world's largest restaurant chain said the introduction of a lower fat cooking oil does not mean sacrificing the taste of the popular fries.

"It's a win-win for our customers because they are getting the same great french fry taste along with an even healthier nutrition profile," said Mike Roberts, president of McDonald's USA.

It was unclear Tuesday whether competitors Burger King and Wendy's International (WEN: Research, Estimates) would follow suit. Neither company could immediately be reached for comment.

The new oil, to be introduced on Oct. 1, will reduce the amount of trans fatty acids in its French fries by 48 percent, and cut saturated fat by 16 percent, the company said.

The new cooking oil also will be used to prepare Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish, Hash Browns and crispy chicken sandwiches.

McDonald's said the switch is part of its new worldwide nutrition initiative in which the company plans to reduce the amount of trans fatty acids in foods prepared at all of its 13,000 restaurants.

The move comes amid a slew of research showing that obesity is on the rise among Americans, so much so that many clothing retailers have been expanding their plus-size offerings to meet rising demand.

In March, a Harris Poll showed about 80 percent of U.S. adults over the age of 25 are overweight. That's a big jump from 71 percent in 1995.

In addition to battling nutrition concerns, McDonald's (MCD: Research, Estimates) has been saddled with several issues in the past few years including fears of tainted beef in Asia and Europe and increasing competition from slightly more upscale restaurants that offer fewer fried foods.

The maturing company is also experimenting with new formats including a new McDonald's with a diner inside, and is also considering a new retail initiative in which it would sell a full offering of merchandise.

Shares of the Oak Brook, Ill.-based chain slipped 5 cents to $23.76 Friday. The stock is down about 10 percent since January.