Abuelo’s announced today it is converting all of its restaurants in the United States to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil. The new oil, supplied by Ventura Foods, will replace the oil previously used in all 38 Abuelo’s restaurants nationwide.

The conversion, which follows extensive testing of oil options, has already begun in most Abuelo’s restaurants and is scheduled to be completed companywide by early August, making Abuelo’s the first national, full-service casual dining Mexican food restaurant to make a trans fat free cooking oil commitment. Abuelo’s will use Ventura’s trans fat free oil for cooking its tortilla chips, taco shells, burritos, French fries, chicken strips and other items.

“We have been testing trans fat free oil in several stores and have been delighted by the outstanding guest response,” said Bob Lin, president of Food Concepts International, Abuelo’s parent company. “In tests on several core items, we found consumers readily accepted the items cooked in trans fat free oil, either not noticing any differences or, in some cases, noting improvement in these items. Abuelo’s is committed to providing the best flavors and freshest ingredients in all our dishes. We are proud to offer a healthier oil that provides the same great tastes our guests expect from Abuelo’s.”

Abuelo’s currently has 38 locations in 15 states throughout the nation.