LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Yum Brands announced yesterday that KFC and Taco Bell said that they have completed their elimination of trans fats.
KFC said that its restaurants nationwide are now serving its fried chicken with zero grams of trans fat per serving. The zero grams of trans fat menu includes all of KFC's fried chicken products, such as its famous Original Recipe and Extra Crispy chicken.
In October 2006, KFC was one of the first quick-service restaurants to announce the move to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil, it said. KFC [image-nocss] was able to transition to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil following years of research and a six-month transition process that resulted in a switch to a low linolenic soybean oil in place of the partially hydrogenated soybean oil previously used in KFC restaurants in the United States.
KFC has introducing its switch to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil with two 15-second commercials created by DraftFCB. In addition, consumers will hear about zero grams trans fat at KFC through in-store point-of-purchase materials, print ads and online.
Other menu items that will now have zero grams of trans fat per serving are Crispy Strips, Wings, Boneless Wings, Honey BBQ, Buffalo and Crispy KFC Snacker Sandwiches, Popcorn Chicken, Twisters and Potato Wedges. Many KFC menu items have always had zero grams of trans fat per serving, including: all Tender Roast Products, Honey BBQ Sandwich, Honey BBQ KFC Snacker, and many side dishes such as Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob and Coleslaw.
Louisville, Ky.-based KFC has more than 14,000 outlets in more than 80 countries and territories around the world. It is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Louisville.
Taco Bell Corp. also announced that it has successfully converted all of its restaurants to a zero grams trans fat frying oil. All 4,200 single-brand restaurants have been converted to a zero grams trans fat canola oil and approximately 1,400 multibrand locations to a low linolenic soybean oil.
The company began the conversion from partially hydrogenated oil in November 2006 following more than two years of consumer testing to find a solution that delivers the same taste with zero grams trans fat.
Taco Bell offers customers 23 menu items with zero grams trans fat per serving, including Gordita Baja Chicken, Gordita Baja Steak and Gordita Supreme, Chicken, Beef Crunchy Taco and Taco Supreme as well as Chalupa Baja (beef, chicken and steak), Chalupa Supreme (chicken and steak), Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco, Cinnamon Twists, Gordita Supreme Steak, Grilled Steak Soft Taco and Spicy Chicken Soft Taco.
Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, is based in Irvine, Calif., and has nearly 5,600 restaurants in the United States.
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