The Center for Science in the Public Interest tested French fries at 14 of America's leading hospitals and six top children's hospitals.
All 20 served fries with health-harming trans fats.
Among the worst offenders, based on the trans fatty content of their fries:
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- 5.3 grams
- University of Michigan Health System -- 4.9 grams
- UCLA Medical Center -- 4.6 grams
- University of Washington Medical Center -- 4.5 grams
- University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center and Children's National Medical Center -- 4.1 grams
What's more, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) serves trans-fat-laden French fries in its cafeteria, despite that agency's own recommended dietary guidelines. Their French fries, in fact, contained more trans fats than any of the hospitals.
The report is having some effect; the University of Michigan Health System vowed to work to remove trans fats from their menus, and the USDA will begin serving fries cooked in trans-fat-free canola oil.