Cholesterol

Louisville-based chain KFC said all 5,500 of its U.S.

restaurants have stopped frying chicken in artery-clogging trans fat, AP reported, adding that the company had said in October that it was switching to a new soybean oil believed to be less likely to cause heart disease.

The chain will absorb the additional expense of the new cooking oil, which won't change the fried chicken's flavor, a KFC spokesman told AP.

Taco Bell said all 4,200 single-brand Taco Bells were converted to a canola oil, and all 1,400 multibrand locations switched to a soybean oil.

Taco Bell said it's working to remove all trans fat from all its ingredients.

The company said it began the conversion from partially hydrogenated oil in November 2006 following more than two years of consumer testing.

The chains are subsidiaries of Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc., whose brands also include Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food Restaurants.

Other companies including Wendy's International Inc.

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