Finger lickin' good -- really

San Jose Mercury News: KFC announced last week that it will eliminate the trans fats in its fried chicken and potato wedges without making them any less "finger lickin' good." Burger giant Wendy's International already did away with the stuff a few months ago.
Slimming down the trans fats doesn't transform fried chicken into health food. One KFC chicken breast still has 380 calories, almost half of which come from fat. But it's one small step in making us a healthier nation.
And if KFC can make the switch, there's little excuse for others in the industry not to follow.
Trans fatty acids, which are commonly added to cooking oils to stabilize them, clog arteries by increasing "bad" cholesterol and reducing "good" cholesterol.
Alternative oils
After doctors and regulators raised the alarm about trans fats several years ago, the food industry developed alternative oils that don't use the ingredient. Makers of packaged foods are increasingly using the new oils, but restaurants have been laggards.
New York City is proposing to force-feed a change by banning trans fats at all restaurants.
A voluntary approach would be better. Jolted by the KFC announcement, Burger King said it will end two years of study and begin testing healthier oils in stores within 90 days. McDonald's, which maintains it can't make the switch despite a 2002 pledge to do so, should learn from its Australian branches, which somehow figured it out.
Restaurants, especially the big chains, have been couch potatoes on the issue for too long. It's time to get up and go.