The Pros and Cons of Grease

Are fast food chains the answer to high fuel prices or are they slowly killing us?

One the one hand . . . police officers in Manila will soon be getting more than a Big Mac fix at McDonalds. The Makati branch of the Philippine National Police is converting patrol cars to run on biodiesel. The revamped cars will use a combination of 60 percent diesel and 40 percent cooking oil. McDonalds is the first fast food chain to offer donations of used cooking oil.

On the other . . . a South Los Angeles community has placed a one year moratorium on new fast food establishments. The area is plagued by above-average rates of obesity and diabetes; community advocates hope the ban will attract restaurants with healthier food choices. A recent study by the county Department of Public Health found that South Los Angeles has the highest incidence of diabetes in the United States.

Sources:  Time, Los Angeles Times, Manila Standard Today, CBS News