Starbucks ditches trans fats

Coffee giant Starbucks has become the latest US chain to stop using trans fats.

The chain has ditched the unhealthy fats, which doctors say increase cholesterol and the risk of coronary heart disease, from products like muffins and doughnuts in half its 5,600 company-owned American outlets.

It hopes to eliminate them completely by the end of the year, but has to work with regional bakers and food suppliers to adjust recipes.

A spokesman was unsure of trans fat plans for locations outside the US and Canada.

Company-owned Starbucks stores in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Portland have no trans fats in their food from today.

Starbucks also licences about 3,200 stores that are operated by other businesses, such as kiosks in airports, and hopes to make the switch there too.

Spokesman Brandon Borrman said the firm’s move was not prompted a forthcoming ban on the fats approved by health regulators in New York.

“This is something we’ve been working on, on our own, for a couple of years now,” he said.

“Our focus has always been on providing our customers with healthy and nutritious food options.”

KFC and Taco Bell have also said they will cut the trans fats from many foods in their kitchens, and McDonald’s has vowed to be ready for New York’s ban, which takes effect on July 1.