Nutrition group sues Burger King over trans fats

By Nichola Groom

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A nutrition advocacy group sued Burger King Holdings Inc. (BKC.N) on Wednesday over the hamburger chain's use of frying oil that contains artery-clogging trans fats.

In court papers filed in Washington, D.C. superior court, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said Burger King is the only leading restaurant chain that has not yet committed to eliminating trans fats from its menu.

"Burger King not only sells food cooked with this harmful ingredient, it does so without warning its customers about life-threatening consequences," the suit said. "Consumers have no way to guard against the risk of consumer trans fats."

Trans fat increases the low-density lipoprotein -- so-called bad cholesterol -- in food, and U.S. health officials have advised Americans to consume as little trans fat as possible.

Restaurants are not legally required to disclose the amount of trans fat in their foods, but CSPI attorney Stephen Gardner said the risks associated with eating trans fats make the products unsafe.

"Given the current state of knowledge... the deliberate use of trans fat, which is completely nonessential, makes those foods deleterious," Gardner said.

Burger King spokesman Keva Silversmith said the company was "disappointed that CSPI elected to bring this baseless lawsuit" and said the company was "committed to eliminating trans fats from its products."

The world's No. 2 hamburger chain is currently testing a variety of healthier oils in hundreds of restaurants in five U.S. markets, Silversmith said. He declined to specify which markets.