Disney phasing out trans fats at overseas parks

ACE is gonna be pissed about this!

No, not really.

You realize, of course, that the most venerated french fries and chips...whether they be Potato Patch, Happy Friar/Mr. Potato/Hot Potato, Boardwalk Fries, or any of those other "gourmet fry" options...have traditionally been fried in peanut oil, right?

Are you also aware that peanut oil (and for that matter, virtually any other frying oil) is already free of trans fats?

Trans fats are found in shortening, and there really is no reason to use shortening as a frying oil when there are really good alternatives out there.

Now trying to get trans fats out of baked goods...that's a much more difficult issue. No oil is going to behave the same way in the oven as a good shortening or margarine. In my opinion, while getting rid of trans fats in frying oils is reasonable, completely eliminating them from the food options altogether is darned near impossible.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

The have only two problems with phasing out trans fats. The first is some people use it as an excuse to think something "isn't bad for you." My second is the trans fat-free oil is often made from palm seed oil. Palm seed oil almost always comes from parts of the world where habitats are destroyed to plant palm tree farms. It's because of these farms that Orangutans may be extinct. Think about it before eating Oreos, Goldfish Crackers, and Cheeze-Its (all unsurprisingly trans fat-free). :(

Those who are alergic to peanuts are going to have one heck of a time eating at most amusement parks if they use peanut oil to fry anything.

Rice cakes for everyone. :)

"You realize, of course,"...

...that I was kidding.

Actually, it's my understanding that peanut oil typically does NOT set off peanut allergies, as the oil does not contain the protein in question. I could be mistaken, though, as my food issues are with gluten, not peanuts :)

As Dave said, eliminating trans fats from all baked goods is a very difficult proposition. That nice light flaky crust in a good pie? Shortening or lard...

(Interesting little fact -- trans fats were intended to be a "healthier" alternative to lard. Turns out they're WORSE for you, and in reasonable amounts as part of a balanced diet you're better off with the lard. Of course that's not vegetarian then.)

--Greg, big advocate of the "all things in moderation" diet