Do you think this deserves a nanny state ping. After all, it was a decision made by a private company. They were only required to go trans fat free by Gubmint edict in NYC?
Posted on 08/27/2007 9:15:11 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084
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, Homer Simpson be damned.
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.
The ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins, another unit of Dunkin' Brands Inc., 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 regulations allow food 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 have recently 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 when it comes to Dunkin's doughnuts, "we're still talking about a food that's mostly white flour, sugar and fat."
Dunkin' isn't positioning its namesake product as health food — a shift that would involve more disbelief suspension than might be possible for a treat synonymous with portly, doughnut-gobbling Homer from television's The Simpsons.
"The goal was not to make a healthy doughnut, it was really to create a doughnut that was better," said Joe Scafido, Dunkin's chief creative and innovation officer. "Certainly, we did not create a healthy doughnut."
Although its coffees are by far a bigger seller, the 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 have already 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 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 Inc., 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 Corp., Dunkin's Seattle-based rival in the coffee shop niche, said in May that it would cut artificial trans fats out of its food and drinks by year's end in stores in the continental U.S., Alaska and Canada.
Dunkin's announcement follows about four years of research of more than 28 alternative cooking oils and proprietary blends.
This past spring, hundreds of restaurants began taking part in a test to gauge customer reaction to the blend that Dunkin' ultimately selected. Managers at participating stores were split into two groups, with one receiving conventional cooking oil, the other receiving the experimental oil, and neither group knowing which type they received. Dunkin' closely watched sales and customer response at restaurants with the experimental oil.
"We got no negative consumer feedback, and we sold 50 million doughnuts in that time," Scafido said.
Dunkin's 1,900 locations outside the U.S. are expected to begin using the new oil over the next couple years, he said.
It's probably too late at night for a nanny state ping, but thought FReepers should know.
Ping (There, it’s done)
Do you think this deserves a nanny state ping. After all, it was a decision made by a private company. They were only required to go trans fat free by Gubmint edict in NYC?
Overeaters are in the government sights.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts are vastly superior!
Mercy,
Just when you thought it was acceptable to come out as a fatty...Oh well, I still love the doughnuts...maybe no longer though. What a bunch of “current” up to date foggies... I just give up, who knows what is really good for you anyway.
I’ve noticed that a lot of foods just don’t taste right once they’ve gone “healthy”. Too bad. I’d rather have less of something that tastes good than a whole bag of crappy low fat donuts.
Overeaters are in the government sights.
___________________________________________
They will be forced to change their behavior that threatens Gubmint health dollars. The program works in their eyes.
They got you to quit smoking. I’m not saying that is a good or bad thing. I’m “quitting neutral”. It’s none of my damn bidness what you do one way or the other as an adult.
I think you know what I mean.
Nanny state ping? Whaddaya think? This should have been posted at 10 am. Who the hell is awake now?
It is probably a good PR and to cut Trans-Fat these days. Look how they’re gettin free advertising and goodwill out of this.
Wonder if they’ll still sit in your belly like a boat anchor? I just cannot eat those things.
Let me take you a little deeper into the article and explain it via play by play:
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“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 when it comes to Dunkin’s doughnuts, “we’re still talking about a food that’s mostly white flour, sugar and fat.”
____________________________________________________
Translation: We are just pushing the envelope and seeing how our lobbying efforts have worked so far. We just want a trans fat ban just like anti smoking crusaders only wanted smoke free sections on airplanes 30 years ago.
I quit eating McDonald’s fries because they taste like garbage, now Duncan Donuts will fall off the list. Ain’t there any outlets willing to stand up to the food nazis?
I ate McDonalds fries for the first time in years last month. They taste like crap. I used to love them in my younger days.
I tried their hash browns for breakfast a few months ago and it tasted like cardboard and left a bitter aftertaste.
On the positive side, I suppose I’ll no longer have to use willpower to pass the golden arches.
My cholesterol is now down to 160. I can just drive past them because the food tastes bad and I don’t want to eat it.
Problem solved. Temptation gone.
Now I will have to go to Krispy Creme.
I like my doughnuts cooked in a combination of lard and beef fat.
Look for the HOT light. Go Krispy Kreme today.
Krispy Kreme, the meeting place of urban heros and conservatives. And where lovely conservative women have a hard time saying no to the dough.
When working 6 hours a day with a chain saw and pushin' logs, I can eat a dozen day in and day out, and NOT gain an ounce. And thats on top of a woodsman's breakfast.
What about real food? The government will have us eating the same food as our dogs. It will be a special blend made just for humans. There will be soft bites for younger eaters, special blends for active teen agers, high calcium pellets for nursing mothers, maintenance bites for middle age, and senior meals for the aged. Arf! Arf!
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