Burger King to end use of trans-fat oil

Burger King Holdings Inc. said it would use trans-fat-free cooking oil at all its U.S. restaurants by the end of next year, following in the footsteps of other leading fast-food restaurants.

The world’s second-largest hamburger chain said it was already using zero trans-fat oil in hundreds of its more than 7,100 U.S. restaurants. Burger King is known for its flame-broiled burgers, but the chain uses cooking oil for its French fries and most of its chicken products.

Trans fats can raise bad cholesterol and lower healthy cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease, doctors say. Critics have said Burger King was taking too long to move toward healthier oils.