Taco Bell to cut trans fats from its cooking oils

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Taco Bell will be the latest fast-food chain to cut artery-clogging trans fats from cooking oils in its U S restaurants, the company said yesterday.

The nation's largest seller of quick-service Mexican-style foods uses the oils to fry its nachos, taco salad shells, potatoes, chalupa shells, and other items.

"This is something we've been working on for over two years ," said Warren Widicus, Taco Bell's chief food innovation officer.

Widicus said the change means 15 Taco Bell menu items will contain no trans fats . He said some items, like the Grilled Stuft Burrito, will still contain some trans fat.

Trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease, are being removed from many fast-food kitchens nationwide as companies try to improve offerings to health-conscious diners.

Taco Bell said all 5,000 of its single-brand restaurants in the United States will change from a partially hydrogenated soybean oil to a trans fat-free canola oil by April. About 100 restaurants have already made the change.