MIAMI Two days after McDonald’s disclosed that its five-year hunt for a trans-fat-free frying oil had ended, arch-rival Burger King announced that it is ready to start testing “a few” similar oils in its restaurants. BK said today that it would have an oil chosen and ready for a domestic rollout by late 2008. A recent story in the Chicago Tribune said McDonald’s U.S.A. is planning to have its changeover completed by early 2008.
John Schaufelberger, vice president of product marketing and innovation for franchisor Burger King Holdings, said the chain would comply with the July restriction on trans-fats use by restaurants that takes effect in New York City on July 1, 2007.
Schaulfelberger said Burger King has been experimenting with various oils for two years, searching for a replacement of the partially hydrogenated frying oil that it and most quickservice chains have used. These synthetic oils have been blamed for lowering good cholesterol and raising bad cholesterol, often contributing to heart disease.
“Our move to in-restaurant testing is a significant milestone for the Burger King system,” Schaulfelberger said.
BK said it would secure commitments from its suppliers to guarantee adequate supplies of whatever oil it chooses. It also noted that taste and consistency factors would be weighed.
McDonald’s said publicly that it chose its new frying medium, a blend of canola, soybean and corn oil, on the basis of taste. But franchisor McDonald’s Corp. had earlier indicated that supply and cost were also considerations. Chains that are switching to trans-fat-free oils say the cost can be as much as 20 percent higher.
That factor, coupled with questions about the stability of oil that is not partially hydrogenated to make it more shelf-stable, can necessitate operational changes. BK noted that its in-store tests will help to refine operational procedures.
Wendy’s International rolled out a reduced-trans-fat oil last summer, while Yum! Brands’ sister chains KFC and Taco Bell have pledged to have their versions in place this April. KFC’s promise, made last fall, came just days after McDonald’s switched to a low-trans-fat canola-sunflower oil in its 740-unit Australian division.
