Friendly's is using trans fat-free oils

Friendly Ice Cream Corp., a Wilbraham-based chain of about 500 restaurants, said it is "officially banning artificial trans fat" from its menu.

Earlier this year, Friendly's disclosed plans to join other restaurant chains in phasing out trans fat oil and said then that it expected the transition to be completed by the fall. (The image at right was taken from Friendly's website.)

Friendly's announcement in March came roughly at the same time as Boston's health board was giving final approval to a ban on trans fat. Other communities, including Brookline and Tiburon, Calif., have taken similar actions. Trans fat has been linked to heart disease in humans.

Friendly's said it will now be using "a high mono-unsaturated canola oil product, which can actually help lower blood cholesterol."

"We want to continue to try to provide our customers with their favorite foods but in a healthier way," Andre Fuehr, a Friendly's vice president, said in a statement. "We are excited to join others in the restaurant industry who have taken this same step and encourage others to do the same. This small step can have measurable effects on one's health."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)