McDonald’s Is Testing a Low-Fat Burger

First the box. Now the burger?

McDonald’s Corp., which is discarding its plastic foam cartons to please environmentalists, said Wednesday that it is testing a low-fat hamburger to please weight-watchers.

One nutritionist hailed the announcement as an apparent breakthrough in the fight against fast-food fat.

The new quarter-pound hamburger is 91% fat-free and weighs in with 310 calories and 10 grams of fat, including the bun, ketchup, mustard, pickle, onion, lettuce and tomato.

Dubbed the Lean Deluxe, it will be aimed at health-conscious consumers who love the taste of beef but want to cut down on fat, the company said.

The secret behind the product comes from the sea.

Although some aspects of the new McDonald’s hamburger are proprietary, it basically involves the use of lean meat with carrageen--a seaweed derivative--added to replace the moisture that fat normally provides.

The low-fat beef was developed at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., in research sponsored by the Beef Industry Council of the National Livestock and Meat Board.

Dale Huffman, an Auburn researcher who helped develop the product, said the result is a lean ground beef not much fatter than such premium cuts as sirloin, round steak or chuck, which can have as little as 8% fat.

The sandwich is being tested at McDonald’s outlets in Harrisburg, Pa. The company said that although consumer reaction is hard to gauge, it seems to be favorable.

No decision will be made on expanding the test market or going forward with the item as a regular product until next year.

“Our hamburgers are already classified lean by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but when it comes to our sandwiches, we’re never satisfied,” said Ed Rensi, president of McDonald’s USA.

Bonnie Liebman, a nutritionist with the Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest, said McDonald’s current quarter-pounder has 410 calories and 20.7 grams of fat, including bun and dressings.

“My guess is that this patty has about half as much fat as the previous one,” she said.

“If that’s true, this is a major breakthrough because people will still be able to get their hamburger but cut down on the fat,” she said.

“It doesn’t mean you can stop worrying about fat,” she added. “You still have to watch out for the french fries, the fried apple pies, the cheese, the dressing on your salad.”