by Phlegm » Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:44 am
Maybe KFC should go back to Kentucky FRIED Chicken. From Reuters:
WASHINGTON - A consumer advocacy group sued the operator of the KFC fried chicken restaurant chain Tuesday to try and force it to stop frying foods in an artery-clogging fat.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, in a suit filed against Yum Brands Inc. in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, said some KFC meals were "startlingly" high in artery-clogging trans fat from the partially hydrogenated oils used for frying. KFC said the lawsuit was baseless.
CSPI executive director Michael Jacobson said it was harder to avoid trans fat at KFC than at other fast-food restaurants.
"Trans fat is almost everywhere on this menu. By frying in such a dangerous oil, KFC is making its unsuspecting consumers' arteries extra crispy," he said, referring to a version of fried chicken sold by KFC.
The suit seeks to force the KFC chain to stop cooking with trans fat or clearly warn customers about the health hazard.
KFC "does not properly warn, disclose or even tell consumers that they are eating food items prepared with the worst oil available," the group said in a legal complaint.
The group asked the court to switch to a healthier frying oil. If that is ruled out, the group asked the court to require signs at KFC outlets saying "KFC fried chicken and certain other foods contain trans fat, which promotes heart disease."
"This is a frivolous lawsuit completely without merit and we intend to vigorously defend our position," KFC spokeswoman Laurie Schalow said in an e-mailed statement. "All KFC products are safe to eat and meet or exceed all government regulations, and we take health and safety issues very seriously."
She said the restaurant chain has been considering alternative oil options, "but there are a number of factors to consider including maintaining KFC’s unique taste and flavor of Colonel Sanders' Original Recipe, supply availability and transportation, among others.â€