Healthier fries to hit the market

J.R. Simplot, supplier to McDonald's and KFC, removes trans-fats from new line of french fries.

May 17, 2004: 1:42 PM EDT

http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/17/new...dex.htm?cnn=yes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - J.R. Simplot Co., which supplies frozen french fries to McDonald's Corp. and other fast-food chains, said Monday it has removed artery-clogging trans-fats from a new line of fries.

The Boise, Idaho company is the latest U.S. food maker to remove trans-fats from some of its products due to consumer concerns about health problems like obesity and diabetes.

In a statement, privately held J.R. Simplot said its trans-fat-free fries, called Infinity Fries, have the same taste, aroma, and crispiness as traditional fries.

Trans fats are created by a chemical process called hydrogenation, which gives products a longer shelf life. Medical experts believe trans fats are more harmful to the heart than other forms of fat that have been linked to heart disease, such as animal fats.

Food companies have been under pressure to develop healthier products since the U.S. government last year issued new regulations requiring all packaged foods to carry labels saying how much trans-fats they contain.

Kraft Foods Inc., the maker of Nabisco crackers and Oreo cookies, and PepsiCo unit Frito-Lay, the maker of Doritos and Ruffles chips, have also pledged to reformulate the nutritional content of their products.

The fast-food industry has also come under fire from health experts who say foods like burgers and french fries are unhealthy and contribute to America's high levels of obesity.

As a result, McDonald's and its competitors have been scrambling to develop and promote healthier menu options like salads.

According to Hoover's, J.R. Simplot is the major french fry supplier for McDonald's, the world's largest restaurant chain. The company also makes fries for privately held Burger King and Yum Brands Inc. (YUM: down $0.41 to $35.91, Research, Estimates) unit KFC.