A new test adopted by the food giant revealed that the amount of trans fats in the fries was 8 grams and not 6 grams and total fat 30 grams and not 25 as measured earlier. In addition, the total calories for a large portion of French fries have gone up to 570 calories from 520 calories.
�As part of our ongoing voluntary efforts to provide our customers with the best science-based information, we continually enhance our testing,� said Cathy Kapica, global nutrition director of McDonald's. She added that through the new nutritional information on the packages, consumers could pick and choose what is best for them.
�It is important to note that McDonald's menu has a wide range of choice and variety, with an array of portion sizes, including three options with French fries � small, medium and large. Using these portion size options, along with our nutrition information, customers can continue to make informed decisions,� Kapica added. The nutritional information on the company's Web site has already been updated.
Trans fats are produced when hydrogen is passed through vegetable oils to increase the shelf life of food products. Most processed foods contain trans fats in varying degrees. Earlier studies have shown that a diet high in trans fats can lead to heart diseases and clogged arteries. In wake of the studies, the US National Academy of Sciences, in 2002, recommended that the intake of trans fats should be kept to a bare minimum.
Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest termed French fries a 'disastrous product'. Calling the increase in trans fats in the potato products a 'dramatic increase', he said, �This certainly raises questions about their testing or about the vaunted uniformity of their products worldwide. Two grams of trans fat is quite a big difference. McDonald's (should) fry in canola oil or other liquid oil.�
According to American Dietetic Association spokesperson Dawn Jackson-Blatner, six grams trans fats was too much to consume. �When it comes to being 6 gram, or 8 gram, it's still a considerable amount more than what we would want in someone's typical day,� she said.
However, McDonald's hasn't made much progress in completely eliminating trans fats from its French fries, said Mitch Smith, director of quality systems at McDonald's. �We're working on trans fat oils, we are looking at all the options to find the right answer,� he said.
Many countries have been trying to eliminate such fats in their products. In May 2005, Tiburon in California became the first city in the world where trans fat-free oils were used in all the eateries. Several restaurant chains in the United States have also altered their cooking ingredients to minimize trans fats. Denmark took a step further in this direction by passing laws that banned partially hydrogenated oils.
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