Kelly's Roast Beef switches to trans fat-free oil

Kelly's Roast Beef, a Saugus chain of five restaurants, has eliminated trans fat from its fried foods by voluntarily switching to a cooking oil free of trans fats, the chain's owner, KRB Management Inc., said today.

"We know many of our customers take pleasure in eating fried food at Kelly's, so why not make the commitment to offer fried foods that promote a better, healthier lifestyle without sacrificing quality or taste," chain chief executive Brian McCarthy said in a statement.

Kelly's becomes one of the latest chains to make the move as consumers read and hear reports about trans fat being linked to heart disease.

Friendly Ice Cream Corp. and Legal Sea Foods are among chains that have either made the switch from trans-fat oils or have announced plans to do so.

Last month, Boston joined such communities as Brookline, New York, and Philadelphia in approving measures that require restaurants to stop serving menu items with significant amounts of trans fats.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)