Dunkin8217;s going zero grams trans fat by mid-October

About 400 US locations that took part in a four-month test already have made the switch to a new blend of palm, soybean and cottonseed oils. That includes all restaurants in New York City and Philadephia, which are forcing restaurants to phase out their use of artery-clogging tans fat.

The ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins, another unit of Dunkin8217; Brands Inc., plans to be zero grams trans fat by Jan 1.

Dunkin8217; is not claiming it will become 8220;trans fat free,8221; but does say any trans fat in foods including doughnuts, croissants, muffins and cookies will fall below half a gram per serving. Federal regulations allow food labels to say they8217;ve got zero grams of trans fat, provided levels fall below the half-gram threshold.

A nutrition advocacy group welcomed Dunkin8217;s addition to the list of restaurant chains that have recently shifted away from trans fat.

8220;It8217;s good news that they8217;re dropping most, if not quite all, trans fat,8221; said Jeff Cronin, spokesman for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based nonprofit. 8220;If Dunkin8217; Donuts can do that, anyone can.8221;