DUBLIN, Ohio — Wendy's is now cooking with oil that has zero grams of trans-fat per serving at its 6,000 U.S. restaurants.
"Wendy's has kept its promise to its customers," said Wendy's interim chief executive Kerrii Anderson. "After two years of research and development, we said in June that we would convert to the new cooking oil by the end of August. We're proud to announce that this process is now complete."
With the move, Wendy's becomes the first major quick-service restaurant chain to switch to non-hydrogenated cooking oil for its french fries and chicken items.
Wendy's breaded chicken sandwiches, nuggets and strips now have zero grams of trans-fat. Depending on the serving size, trans-fats in French fry offerings will range from zero to 0.5 grams. Kids' Meal nuggets and fries will have no trans-fat.
"We've already served millions of servings of food cooked in the new soy-corn oil blend with zero grams of trans fat, and consumers have reaffirmed that there is absolutely no difference in taste," said Ian Rowden, Wendy's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "Furthermore, the conversion to the new oil has been cost neutral to our system.
"This is the right thing to do and it's an important innovation for all of us in the Wendy's family."
Changes to Wendy's cooking oil and chicken items will reduce trans fats for Wendy's chicken and fries by an average of 95 percent. Beyond this effort, the company is working directly with its French fry suppliers to further reduce trans fats that occur as part of the par frying process at their facilities, with a goal of zero grams.
Wendy's use of the non-hydrogenated oil also means on average a 20 percent reduction in saturated fats in the breaded chicken items and French fries.
The USDA's 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that individuals substitute mono and polyunsaturated fats for saturated fats, and consume as little trans fats as possible as part of a healthful diet.
Most Wendy's restaurants in Canada are already using the new oil, with all scheduled to be on board within the next few weeks.
