Universal Studio Parks Get Health-conscious, Ban Trans Fats

It has been an achievement of sorts at Universal Parks & Resorts, part of Universal Studios in Hollywood, and the achievement is more of a dietary kind than a cinematic kind. The park has taken up cudgels against the use of trans fats in the junk food items on its menus. The current initiative has led to a ban on trans fats in junk foods served inside the park.

The change came about on Christmas Eve, and customers, mostly youngsters, immediately picked up on it. Said Jack Xu, a twelve year old exchange student from China who had visited the park earlier, as he munched on his favorite French fries, “The fries taste drier and are not as salty as before. I still like it.” Xu was feasting on a basket of chicken tenders and French fries.

The decision to switch to trans fat-free oils has been incorporated since last week, with Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure in Florida, and Universal Hollywood preparing 90 percent of its junk food items in trans fat-free oils. Another food item, the Spanish fried-dough pastry is also scheduled to go trans fat-free by the end of next year, according to Ric Florell, senior vice president, Universal Orlando Resorts.

Besides switching to trans fat-free fare, the park has decided to offer other healthier food options to customers. Now, junk food cooked in trans fat-free oils is not the only fare that young customers will be offered now. They also have the option of eating healthy food items such as salads and fruit bowls.

Trans fats are basically vegetable oils with hydrogen, which is added by the process of hydrogenation. Trans fats are cheaper to produce and give more shelf life to products. However, they increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease.

The decision to ban trans fats has been welcomed by most customers. Xu’s teacher Michael Fang is one such happy customer. However, this decision was not made overnight. Food scientists at the facilities actually spent months experimenting in an attempt to find alternatives to trans fats. The experiments included conducting blind taste tests on customers and using the feedback received to provide menus that offered more variety.

The decision makes Universal Parks & Resorts the latest in a list of resorts and theme parks that have taken the initiative to ban trans fats and instead offer other healthier options. New York City was the first US city to ban the use of trans fats, while Walt Disney Co. announced its decision to phase out the use of trans fats in its food items in October.