Burger King launches lower-calorie 'Satisfries'

Burger King has launched lower-calorie, lower-fat, crinkle-cut fries, dubbed Satisfries, available throughout North America Tuesday.

The Satisfries contain 30 percent less fat and 20 percent fewer calories than Burger King's current fries, and 40 percent less fat and 30 percent fewer calories than the fries at rival McDonald's.

Burger King says the new fries' ingredients are identical to their classic fries. The company tweaked the amount of just a few ingredients -- which they won't reveal -- so that less oil is absorbed by the thinner batter.

The move comes as consumers are demanding healthier options, even at fast food restaurants. "It's not realistic to ask people to replace french fries with carrots or celery sticks," says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian hired by Burger King. "This is like meeting people halfway."

A small serving of BK's Satisfries contains 270 calories and 11 grams of fat, compared with 340 calories and 15 grams of fat for a small serving of its classic fries.

Currently, Burger King North America sells some 56 million orders of fries each month, according to president Alex Macedo.

"Small changes create a big impact," Macedo said.

The Satisfries will cost 20 to 30 cents more per order, except in Kids Meals, which will stay at the same price. If consumers go for the new Satisfries, it could mean reducing consumption by millions of calories per month.

Still, health experts warn that the lower fat and calorie fries shouldn't fool anyone into believing they aren't still high in fat and calories.

More than one-third of Americans are currently obese, and some ten percent of the nation's healthcare bill is spent on obesity-related conditions including Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.