Balance of Food

Oops! Too much trans fat

Update 2/19: Why truth in advertising is important? there are now 3 lawsuits against McDonald's for putting wheat and dairy ingredients in their French fries.

Update 2/14: Chalk another "oops" by McDonald's Corp. The company said wheat and dairy ingredients are used to flavor its French fries, an acknowledgment it had not previously made. Those who are allergic to wheat and dairy need to know this.

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So now I wonder what are McD's French fries actually made of that wheat and dairy have to be in POTATOES??

When everybody is counting trans fat, even if they don't know exactly what it is, you got to get it right. McDonald's didn't do that, and what a surprise, their numbers were off by understating the amount of trans fat in their French fries.

Correcting a labeling error, the hamburger giant acknowledged that the trans fat content in an order of its large fries is 8 grams of trans fat instead of the 6 grams listed on brochures and McDonald's Web site.

In addition, the total fat content of the large fries is 30 grams rather than the 25 grams listed, while total calories rose to 570 from 520.

This comes after the company is rolling out its new nutritional packaging tying into the start of the Olympics. The packaging is being rolled out in Turin, Italy, the site of the Winter Olympics.

The U.S. government recommends consumers limit consumption to less than 2 grams per day.

McDonald's has had numerous screw-ups on its French fries and accurate information. A year ago, the company agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit over failing to inform consumers of delays in a plan to reduce fat.

In 1990, the company said it abandoned the use of beef tallow in cooking fries in favor of 100 percent vegetable shortening. After Hindus and Muslims got upset over the conitnued use of beef tallow, the company apologized.

So guess what, in reading the nutritional data, it's probably mostly right but don't hold your breath that it's completely accurate.

Bill Kurtis joins slow food board

Bill Kurtis is known for his deep voice and strong journalism integrity and his many hours on A&E. But he is also a Kansas native and rancher. And it is his Kansas and rancher backgrounds that likely led him to join the board of directors of Slow Food USA, a nonprofit organization that preserves traditional foodways and works on educating people about food as a part of community.

I have actually met Kurtis before. I grew up watching him do the local news in Chicago before he became "Mr. A&E." He's a nice guy. I am curious to learn more about the Slow Food phenomenon. If you have more info, leave a comment.

So what to eat on Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday is one of those long-held "holidays of food." And the symbolism of Super Bowl XL can also XL "eating pants."

So how can you make this Super Bowl Sunday special?

There was the report that said vegetables are popular on the pigskin day. And they certainly have a place. But let's get creative.

The game is being held in Detroit, so it would seem appropriate to have either Domino's (headquartered in nearby Ann Arbor) or Little Caesar's (Detroit).

Detroit is known for the Coney dog. Given its large African-American population, soul food would be a nice touch. Detroit has a thriving Greektown, so it's a good excuse to add a Greek theme to your food.

Then, there's Windsor in Ontario, just across the Detroit River. To honor the Ontario fans, you might try dipping French fries in mayonnaise. I have found poutine (French fries covered in cheese curds and topped with brown gravy) in Windsor, so if you want to go for poutine, you can culturally justify it.