Fatburger, the last great hamburger stand, is making an effort to provide healthy alternatives to health-conscious diners while continuing to offer fare that is high in taste and quality. By transitioning to trans-fat free cooking oil, continuing to offer lean beef and adding new menu items, Fatburger is bringing healthier food to the market.

On January 1st, Fatburger began eliminating trans fat from its menu items. The plan includes transitioning to trans-fat free frying oil in all 83 locations. The new soy bean-based oil will be used to prepare fried offerings, including Fat and Skinny Fries and homemade onion rings.

"Our goal is to provide our guests with the high quality and great taste that they know and love from Fatburger," said Elaine Patel, vice president of marketing for Fatburger North America, Inc. Fatburger tested six varieties of trans-fat free oil over a two month period to ensure that flavor was not affected by the change. The transition has been seamless for Fatburger customers.

Just a few restaurants have yet to transition. “They are just finishing their existing supplies,” explained Patel. It is expected that all Fatburger locations will be trans-fat free by the end of the first quarter.

Healthy food options do not stop with Fatburger’s fried offerings. Fatburger also uses lean beef. The fresh, 100 percent pure lean beef is ground fresh daily and USDA inspected. All Fatburger beef is tested for toxins and other containments. Each patty is also tested to ensure it is only comprised of approximately 18 percent fat, proving that the “Fat” in Fatburger refers to the size of the burgers.

For those looking for something other than burgers, Fatburger recently added two new permanent menu items, a Veggieburger and Fat Wedge Salad. The Veggieburger features a meatless Boca® soy patty on a whole wheat bun finished off to the guests’ specifications with garnishes like lettuce, tomato, onions and cheese. The Fat Salad Wedge is topped with diced bacon, tomato and a choice of dressings including Ranch, Italian, Thousand Island and Bleu Cheese. Customers have the option of adding grilled chicken. In addition, Fatburger continues to offer their Turkeyburger, a favorite among stars like Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah and Magic Johnson, as well as their fresh marinated chicken sandwich.

“We want to appeal to the increasing number of health-conscious consumers while continuing to offer loyal fans the traditional items Fatburger is known for like our great, big, juicy burgers and milkshakes made with real hand-scooped ice cream,” Patel said. In fact, Fatburger is hoping that the new menu items help customers who sometimes can’t go to Fatburger because someone in their group wants healthy or vegetarian menu offerings. “Make no mistake,” Patel asserts, “Fatburger hasn’t gone soft (or more accurately light). We are still the same brand focusing on big and tasty burgers for meat lovers. “