Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil
02/23/2007
Kevin Hennessy, vice president of perishables for No Frills Supermarkets, displays a container of the trans fat-free Nutra-Clear NT cooking oil that will be used in preparing fried foods at the grocery chain.
No Frills Supermarkets has jumped on a national trend, announcing this week that all of its fried deli foods are now cooked in trans fat-free oil.
Media attention has been focused on trans fat since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began its requirement that levels of the substance be listed on packaged-food labels, and efforts are underway across the country to reduce or ban its use in restaurants.
No Frills will use Nutra-Clear NT in its delis, a canola oil developed for high stability deep-frying. In addition to having zero trans fat, the new oil has lower saturated fats and contains Omega 3, considered an essential fatty acid.
Kevin Hennessy, vice president of perishables for No Frills, said many deli favorites will benefit from the change.
"It's anything we put in the fryer," he said. "That would be chicken. Any fish that we fry."
The trans fat-free program was implemented last week at all 15 stores after a review of the available trans fat-free oils.
"I've been working on this for probably about three months," Hennessy said.
That included looking at a number of different trans fat-free oils on the market. Nutra-Clear NT also was the lowest in saturated fats, something he speculated is probably the next thing on the watch list.
"You could use this as salad oil," he said.
The change game as the store reached the end of its commitment with the previous supplier of deep-frying oil. The new product is made by the Bunge Corp.
Linda Wood of Council Bluffs picked up a fried chicken breast while shopping Thursday at No Frills, and said she likes the change.
"I think this is great," the said. "I go to Weight Watchers now."
Hennessy said he understands that Bakers, Bag 'N Save and Super Target have switched to different brands of trans fat-free oils, but he thinks No Frill is the only grocery outlet in Council Bluffs to make the move.
No Frills Supermarkets has two stores in Council Bluffs and a lengthy history in the community, beginning in 1980 when Harold Cooperman opened the chain's first store on West Broadway.