SEATTLE Starbucks Corp. is removing trans fats from its menu items, beginning Jan. 3 in about half the coffee chain’s 8,500 U.S. units.
The move extends to baked goods, salad dressings and sandwich spreads. The trans-fat-free versions have been in test for about two years, a spokesman said. Starbucks also has reformulated ingredients in lattes and other beverages so that they contain less than .5 grams of trans fats.
Starbucks quietly has sold such trans-fat-free seasonal products as Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins and Cranberry Bliss Bars and received no negative customer feedback, according to headquarters. Starting Jan. 3, stores in 10 markets are posting signs in pastry cases stating that products contain no trans fats, known to clog arteries and contribute to raising the “bad” cholesterol in the blood.
Because the company uses different suppliers in each region, it was not able to purge trans fats from all stores at once, said a spokesman. Markets doing the conversions Jan. 3 are Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
The company has not set a timetable for completing its trans-fats elimination. “Our main priority has always been to provide the highest-quality products. Now you can see the results of our work,” said spokesman Brandon Borremans.
Spokesmen denied that the move had anything to do with new and proposed municipal trans-fat bans, such as the one scheduled to go into effect in New York City this July.
Other national foodservice chains that have announced plans to drop trans fats from menu items include Wendy’s, Yum! Brands and Darden Restaurants. McDonald’s and Burger King have not yet committed to dates to roll out trans-fat-free foods, although both chains claim to be getting closer to finding suitable alternative frying oils.