New research indicates that major American fast food chains have substantially cut down on the use of unhealthful trans fats in their cooking oils.
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The finding comes from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health, and is being reported this week at the National Nutrient Database conference being held in Grand Forks, N. D.
"While it took time for major fast food chains to decrease trans fats in their foods, I'm pleased to see that they have done it," Lisa Harnack, director of the university's Nutrition Coordinating Center, said in a news release.
"I'm also pleased to see that they haven't raised levels of saturated fats to replace trans fats," she added. "This is good news, as the average American gets about 10 percent of calories from fast food. But moderation is still key when considering fast food. Calories and sodium are high and portion sizes are often too large."
The finding follows increasing pressure by global health authorities to reduce consumption of trans fats to trace amounts, along with a Congressional law passed in 2006 that mandates disclosure of trans fat content on American food labels.
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SOURCE: Health Day
