Advocacy Group Sues KFC Over Trans Fats

A consumer advocacy organization sued KFC on Tuesday to get it to stop using partially hydrogenated oils, a foremost ingredient of its fried chicken.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)-the advocacy group filed a lawsuit seeking to end KFC's use of partially hydrogenated oil in fried chicken and other dishes as the oils contain trans fats, which scientists consider the most unhealthful of all fats.

An American non-profit organization- CSPI that focuses on issues relating to foods and the food services industry and frequently criticizes the food industry and the government, seeks to have the District of Columbia Superior Court, where the suit was filed, either ban use of the oils in KFC's cooking or force the company to post signs notifying customers that many of the chain's foods are high in trans fat and can cause heart disease.

The second-largest fast-food chain in the world, after McDonald's, KFC (previously known as Kentucky Fried Chicken) is a division of Yum! Brands, Inc., and is based in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Founded by Col. Harland Sanders, KFC is known primarily for its fried chicken. KFC has over 5,400 eateries in the United States and more than 8,200 overseas.

In a reference to one of the chain's popular menu items, Michael F. Jacobson, the group's executive director said, “By frying in such a dangerous oil, KFC is making its unsuspecting consumers' arteries extra crispy.”

Any decision against the American food chain would be binding only in Washington, where the science group has its headquarters. But the advocacy group anticipates such a ruling would cause the chain to make changes countrywide.

On the other hand, calling the latest lawsuit "frivolous" and "completely without merit", KFC said in a statement, “All KFC products are safe to eat and meet or exceed all government regulations,” stating further that “We provide a variety of menu choices and provide nutrition information, including trans fat values, on our website and in our restaurants so consumers can make informed choices before they purchase our products.”

On oil issue, the chain stated, “We have been reviewing alternative oil options, but there are a number of factors to consider including maintaining KFC's unique taste and flavor of Colonel Sanders' Original Recipe.”

KFC's three-piece Extra Crispy combo meal, which comprises a drumstick, two thighs, potato wedges, and a biscuit, totals 15 grams of trans fat, according to the CSPI 's estimation. That's more trans fat than an individual should intake in a week, Ex. Dir. Jacobson said.

This is not the first time that a food chain is facing a lawsuit over trans fats, rather, McDonald's agreed to pay $8.5 million last year after a California lawyer brought a suit that indicted the company of reneging on a commitment to reduce trans-fat levels.