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Loews Hotels Ban Trans Fat from Menus

By Dan Schlossberg
ConsumerAffairs.com

December 19, 2006

Trans Fats • Court Rebuffs Burger King in Trans Fat Case • Dunkin’ Donuts to Dump the Trans Fat • Burger King Hit With Trans Fat Lawsuit • KFC Removes Trans Fat From Chicken Fryers • Harvard Study Links Trans Fat To Heart Disease • Burger King Testing Trans Fat-Free Cooking Oils • Starbucks Cuts Trans Fats • Scientists Claim Development Of "Healthy" Trans Fat • Loews Hotels Ban Trans Fat from Menus • New York City Bans Trans Fats in Restaurants • KFC Plans To Cut The Trans Fat • New York City Considers Trans Fat Ban • Researchers: Food Labels Should List All Fats • KFC Sued Over Artery-Clogging Oils • Wendy's Cuts Trans Fats in Fries and Chicken --- • More ...

While most of their hotel brethren are trimming the fat by cutting staff, Loews Hotels has become the first to trim the fat from the food it serves.

The four-diamond chain has outlawed the use of artificial trans fats from fare sold not only in its restaurants and shops but even in guestroom mini-bars. All 18 Loews properties in North America will follow the new restrictions, which take full effect in June 2007.

The plan will be enacted in stages. By Feb. 1, Loews will eliminate the use of trans fats in frying oils and French fries. By April 1, all salad dressings, frozen foods, and pastry items will be free of trans fats. And by June 1, trans fats will be gone from waffles, pancakes, and prepared mixes used by Loews chefs. Phasing out the use of trans fats gradually allows chefs to experiment with suitable substitutes, according to Loews officials.

Among other things, butter will replace shortening and mini-bars will carry such items as Sunchips, Baked Lay's, and Power Bars.

Artery-clogging trans fats, usually listed as "partially hydrogenated oil," have already been banned in New York City by edict of the city's Board of Health, which oversees 24,000 restaurants and food service providers.

Trans fats are known to extend the shelf life of prepared foods but also suspected of contributing to heart disease. Marc Ehrler, executive chef for Loews Hotels, calls trans fats "a danger."

The Loews announcement, in the works for months, followed New York's by days and is the first in the hotel industry.

"We wanted to set the standard," said Emily Goldfischer, vice president of public relations for the New York-based chain. "We are committed to giving our guests the best foods available."

Guest complaints did not prompt the move, she added.

The Loews hotel group includes three properties near Universal Studios in Orlando, an area of the country that is notorious for fast food and unhealthy eating habits.

Other Loews locations include Annapolis, Denver, Lake Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Montreal, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Quebec City, San Diego, St. Pete Beach, Tucson, and Washington, DC.

The Loews decision is likely to ignite a trend in the highly-competitive hotel industry.

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