Starbucks cuts trans fats in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Starbucks Corp. (SBUX), the world’s biggest coffee-shop chain, will have zero trans fats in its food in its San Francisco stores starting today. Spokesman Brandon Borrman said the Seattle chain is cutting trans fats from the doughnuts, muffins and other treats in half of its U.S. stores, and plans to eventually drop the artery-clogging fats from company-operated coffeehouses across the country.

It has been working to eliminate trans fats from its menu for about two years, Borrman said. Trans fats, listed on labels as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, are believed to be harmful because they wreak havoc on cholesterol levels.

Other cities’ Starbucks stores cutting trans fats today include: Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore. As of Oct. 1, Starbucks had 5,668 company-owned stores in the U.S., and another 3,168 licensed stores at supermarkets, airports and other locations. It had 12,440 stores worldwide. Other restaurant chains have also eliminated or plan to eliminate trans fats.

Developer Lennar projects fourth-quarter loss

Homebuilder Lennar Corp. (LEN), developing Hunters Point and Treasure Island in San Francisco, said it expected a fourth-quarter loss as the company re-evaluates how much its inventory is worth amid a slowing industry. Numbers won’t released until Jan. 17.

“Market conditions continued to weaken throughout the fourth quarter and we have not yet seen tangible evidence of a market recovery,” Lennar President and CEO Stuart Miller said. “Given the steep decline in many of our markets, we are completing our asset-by-asset review and will adjust asset balances to reflect fair value in the current market environment.”

St. Mary’s hospital joins Catholic Healthcare West

Reno’s Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center has joined San Francisco nonprofit Catholic Healthcare West, a system of 43 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona and Nevada. Terms weren’t disclosed. The merger will expand CHW’s presence in Nevada. CHW operates three St. Rose Dominican Hospital campuses in Southern Nevada.