McDonald's as the newest health food?

McDonald's and "low-fat" are not two words that go together. It is usually assumed that when one walks into a McDonald's, one is going to consume a high amount of fat along with that tasty burger and order of french fries, supersized.

In response to health concerns and the obesity problem created primarily by America's fast-food culture through restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, and Taco Bell, the McDonald's USA corporation has announced that it will serve a new "less-fatty" type of french fries at all of its 13,000 restaurants.

The McDonald's official website states that level of trans-fatty acids in the fries will be reduced by 48 percent, that saturated fat will be reduced by 16 percent, and that the level of polysaturated fat will be increased by 167 percent.

Many who frequently eat at McDonalds are concerned that the new french fries will not be appetizing.

"I'd be interested to see if [the fries] taste any different," sophomore Margaret Merrill said.

"Generally, fat-free foods are less tasty, but with McDonald's, I will keep an open mind," sophomore Gabriel Mas said.

According to Mike Roberts, president of McDonald's USA, the new fries will taste the same as the old ones. "It's a win-win situation for our customers because they are getting the same great french fry taste along with an even healthier nutrition profile," Roberts says on the McDonald's website.

"This leadership initiative is all about giving our customers a wide range of wholesome choices, the highest quality ingredients and the same great taste that they have come to expect from McDonald's."

But is the decision to infuse the new fries with trans-fatty acids truly going to benefit the consumer? Professor Alice Lichtenstein from the Tufts' Nutrition School explains that hidden dangers lie behind McDonald's new campaign.

Earlier this month, Lichtenstein commented on McDonald's new french fries in an article that appeared in The New York Times. Her opinion was solicited because Lichtenstein researches full-time in the area of lipid metabolism.

Although the new french fries will contain fewer trans-fatty acids, Lichenstein warns that they are not necessarily healthy, as the amount of calories in the fries will be the same. But, cooking the potatoes for the french fries in polysaturated fat will reduce the amount of fat that is absorbed, and thus potentially help McDonalds eaters to reduce their blood cholesterol levels and risk of heart attack.

"However, that still does not mean that fries are good for you or that because they are made with a 'healthier' fat it is okay to go from a small to large order," Lichtenstein said. "It certainly does not mean you should eat them because they are 'good' for you."

It remains to be seen whether the switch to the new fries is just a publicity stunt to counter the current slew of lawsuits that have been brought against McDonald's or whether McDonald's is, in fact, starting an industry-wide initiative that will positively impact all fast food restaurants.

Among the french fry lovers on the Tufts campus, there are no clear answers to this question.

"I would be skeptical of less fatty french fries," Sophomore Nick Chasset said. "I would say that the reduction in fat is good, but I would be curious to know what the replacement is."

"I definitely think that the fries will sell because many Americans are very concerned with losing weight," Mas said. "I think people will be willing to sacrifice less tasty fries in exchange for less fat."

Others remain skeptical.

"I don't think I would be any more tempted to go to McDonald's than I otherwise would be," Kristian Horvei said. "Nobody goes to McDonald's for the fries anyway, they are kind of extras that you shove in your mouth after the burger."

The new fries, Horvei believes, are a "...hyped-up quick fix" that, in the long run, will not contribute to reducing American society's obesity.

Freshman Jessica Harris agrees with Lichtenstein that some may now purchase greater quantities of fries under the false impression that the fries are now a healthy food. "They're probably just as bad for you because McDonalds will put lots of chemicals in them," Harris said.

Time and Newsweek magazines have recently run articles outlining America's growing problem with obesity. The diet industry has grown immensely in the last ten years, with fad diets and exercises springing up by the hundred every year.

Health articles and Internet websites claim that Americans are gaining weight largely because of large portion sizes and an overindulgence in carbohydrates and sweets. McDonalds goers who will purchase more fries because they are now lower in fat therefore run the risk of weight gain.

Americans also have a much wider pool of unhealthy foods to choose from, causing many to sample more than one unhealthy item at meals.

Having lived in Amsterdam before coming to Tufts, Chasset thinks that Americans are considerably less prudent in their choices of food than are Europeans.

"In the more metropolitan areas [of the United States], there is a lot more variety in unhealthy foods in supermarkets and restaurants than there is in supermarkets abroad," Chasset said. "But I think [the options] in the supermarkets in Europe are becoming increasingly more diverse."

Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention report that 61 percent of Americans and 13 percent of American children are obese. This is a dramatic increase from the numbers of 20 years ago.

"Many times people habitually consume too many calories relative to the amount of calories they burn," Lichtenstein said. "The problem is getting worse and worse in the US."

Ideally, the McDonald's corporation's new initiative will help people to reduce the amount of calories in their diets rather than encouraging patrons to purchase more unhealthy food. In the meantime, experts advise consumers interested in their health to be aware of the dangers of trans-fatty acids and polysaturated fats found in fast food