Burger King...trans fats!

Occasionally, I like to wolf down a fat juicy burger with a side of chili fries and a big gulp, but with the advent of informative books like "Fast Food Nation" warning about the perils of eating out, I always exercise a little caution these days...

Well, it looks like it may be safe to eat at Burger King, if you believe food experts. The fast-food chain announced recently that they intend to cut trans-fat cooking oils from their tasty menu by the end of the year.

The second-largest hamburger chain is following a trend in the industry.

Although their burgers are flame-boiled, until now BK has been using trans-fat-laced oils for deep-frying french fries and chicken.

Will they be sacrificing taste for health concerns?

Not if you believe tests conducted in recent months. Consumers allege that french fries and hash browns cooked in the alternative products tasted just as good, if not better.

Why the switch?

On food labels trans fats are listed as hydrogenated vegetable oil - which can raise bad cholesterol and lower healthy cholesterol - increasing the risk of heart disease, according to Doctors.

The move by Burger King was not entirely of their own accord, however.

The Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Burger King in May, saying the company was moving too slowly on the issue, and failed to set a definite timetable for removal of trans fats.

In response, Burger King vowed to institute the new procedures for cooking by the end of 2007.

The fast-food giant is slightly behind McDonald's Corporation and Wendy's who began the switch to cooking oil with zero grams of trans fat in August, 2006.

But we’re not out of the woods yet...

Major Food Manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil in a process known as hydrogenation.

Hydrogenation is used to increase shelf life and ensure flavor stability of packaged foods on the shelf.

While unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are beneficial when consumed in moderation, saturated and trans fats are not.

Consumers, take note: when comparing foods look at the Nutrition Facts panel and choose the food with the lowest amounts of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol.

Health experts recommend that you keep your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet.

However, these experts recognize that eliminating these three components entirely from your diet is not practical because they are unavoidable in ordinary diets.

And, trans fats are not often disclosed in fast-food products.

Therefore, the trend towards use of cooking oils without trans fats at take-out chains is a move in the right direction.

Eat healthy, if you can!