DunKiN Donuts

[TmT]

Monday, August 27, 2007 - Page updated at 01:06 AM





Dunkin' Donuts to cut its trans fat
By MARK JEWELL

The Associated Press

BOSTON — Dunkin' Donuts, the food-on-the-go chain whose name celebrates a treat that's symbolic of unhealthy eating, is trying to refresh its image by largely eliminating trans fat across its menu.

Dunkin' planned to announce today that it has developed an alternative cooking oil and reformulated more than 50 menu items — doughnuts included. The Canton, Mass.-based chain says its menu will be "zero grams trans fat" by Oct. 15 across its 5,400 U.S. restaurants in 34 states.

About 400 locations nationwide that took part in a four-month test already have made the switch to a new blend of palm, soybean and cottonseed oils. That includes all restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia, which are forcing restaurants to phase out their use of artery-clogging trans fat.

The ice-cream chain Baskin-Robbins, another unit of Dunkin' Brands, plans to be zero grams trans fat by Jan. 1.

Dunkin' isn't claiming it will become "trans fat free," but does say any trans fat in foods, including doughnuts, croissants, muffins and cookies, will fall below half a gram per serving. Federal rules allow labels to say they've got zero grams of trans fat, provided levels fall below the half-gram threshold.

A nutrition-advocacy group welcomed the company's addition to the list of restaurant chains that recently have shifted away from trans fat.

"It's good news that they're dropping most, if not quite all, trans fat," said Jeff Cronin, spokesman for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based nonprofit. "If Dunkin' Donuts can do that, anyone can."

But Cronin cautioned that with the company's doughnuts, "we're still talking about a food that's mostly white flour, sugar, and fat."

Although its coffees are by far a bigger seller, the New England-bred, 57-year-old chain was founded on the reputation of its doughnuts. Now, Dunkin' claims to be the first major chain to introduce a zero-grams trans fat doughnut, although smaller doughnut makers already have done so. Mainstream doughnut makers' products can have around 5 grams of trans fat apiece.

The main source of trans fats is partially hydrogenated oils, formed when hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oils to harden them. Evidence suggests that artificial trans fats boost "bad" cholesterol and lower "good" cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Dunkin' is ahead of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, which has yet to roll out a zero-gram trans fat doughnut but hopes to do so. Brian Little, a spokesman for the North Carolina-based chain, said, "We continue to work aggressively with outside supply partners, and our goal is to get to zero trans fatty acids while maintaining great Krispy Kreme taste."

Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts' Seattle-based rival in the coffee-shop niche, said in May that it would cut trans fats out of its food and drink by year's end in stores in the continental U.S., Alaska and Canada.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

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[Tara]

 !@!

[TmT]

!@!

When l0c0 reads they cut "FAT" he will be so upset...lmfaoz

[ImJustOneOldFart]

if it aint broke DONT FIX IT.........

if you buy a donut you know just what your getting, why mess with perfection...

i want my trans fat back in @ KFC too.... !@!

[Tara]

Just because their taking most of the trans fat out doesn't mean it's good for you.  Donuts are still bad.  :oo  They will just put another type of lard in it and next year it will kill ya. :-[

[TmT]

Tara... where is Monkey..our Spelling Corrector.  He got you on the word "fourty" in Funs and Games and let me misspell DunKIN... DunCAN
<fallin out the chair> lmao  Im like ..say what... who started that thread.... ME>< it was ME rofl