Universal Studios Hollywood Bans Trans-Fat

Universal Studios Hollywood will eliminate all trans-fat food and introduce a healthier menu starting Sunday. The theme park will now offer healthy side choices for adults and children at most food units. Kid’s meals will now come with a choice of fruit or trans-fat-free fries. Adult meals will feature salads or the healthier french fries. The park expects to become completely trans-fat free by the end of 2007. “Providing our guests healthier options and trans-fat-free cooking is the right thing to do,” said Universal Parks & Resorts executive chef Steven Jayson, in a statement. “We want our guests to feel good about the food they eat when they visit our theme parks. And we know choice is important to them. That’s why our program is about choices rather than absolutes.” The new menu also applies to the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida also owned by NBC-Universal. Earlier this year, Burbank-based Walt Disney Co. announced it will also stop using trans-fat at its U.S. theme parks by the end of 2007 and will no longer license food containing it by 2008. The theme park chain Busch Gardens is also phasing out trans-fat and earlier this year the New York Board of Health voted to ban artificial trans-fat in restaurant food in that city.