PGE Park announces plans to eliminate trans fat in 2007
Published on March 28, 2007 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Portland Timbers News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Beavers, the Portland Timbers and the teams' food-service provider, Centerplate, Inc., today announced plans to eliminate trans fats at PGE Park in 2007.
The plan includes preparing foods served at PGE Park using only trans fat-free shortening products and continuing to work with food suppliers to eliminate their use of trans fats in their processing operations.
Centerplate, an industry leader in food and related services, began exploring the elimination of trans fats several years ago when the company initiated testing trans fat-free alternatives in several of its facilities. Since that time, Centerplate has conducted an in-depth analysis of the recipes and ingredients that comprise its menu - including offerings at PGE Park - with an intense focus on making shortenings trans fat-free. Although trans fatty acids occur naturally, especially in meat and dairy products, hydrogenated shortenings contain high concentrations of trans fat. Eliminating these shortenings will be Centerplate's focus at PGE Park in 2007.
"Centerplate is committed to being at the forefront of the new standards for responsible food and beverage service," said Mike Sweeny, general manager of Centerplate at PGE Park.
Centerplate's initiative to eliminate trans fats is already underway at a host of West Coast venues, including BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, B.C., the Vancouver (BC) Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Los Angeles Zoo and in the suites at Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium, which played host to the BCS national championship game in January. The move to eliminate trans fats will also be in effect this season at Safeco Field in Seattle.
In response to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and the continued public focus on the many harmful qualities of trans fats, the restaurant, catering and food-service industries have begun to phase out trans fats and switch to alternative ingredients that allow consumers to make healthier food choices.
Centerplate, which marks its third season as PGE Park's food-service provider in 2007, is a leading provider of food and related services - including concessions, catering and merchandise services - in hundreds of sports facilities, convention centers and other entertainment facilities in the United States and Canada.
PGE Park annually plays host to more than 100 sports and entertainment events and is home to the Beavers, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres; and the Timbers, a member of professional soccer's USL First Division.
The PGE Park season of events begins April 13 when the Beavers play host to the Fresno Grizzlies. The Timbers open their season April 21 when they take on the Puerto Rico Islanders at PGE Park.
USL First Division Stories from March 28, 2007
- Battery earns late point versus Houston - Charleston Battery
- PGE Park announces plans to eliminate trans fat in 2007 - Portland Timbers
- Thunder to hold home opener as charity event again in 2007 - Minnesota Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
