McDonald's is now the only fast-food chain to serve low-fat shakes. Arby's introduced 2% low-fat milk, and is test-marketing 1% low-fat milk to match McDonald's, but maintained its regular shakes at 330 calories and 12 grams fat. Carls Jr. also has iontorduced 1% milk and is testing lowfat shakes.

In 1990, the chain added skinless fried chicken to join an undersized low-calorie sandwich. The new skinfree crispy thigh has 17 grams of fat and 256 calories, compared with 31 grams of fat and 414 calories for the Colonel's most caloric item, the extra crispy thigh. Still, the skinfree chicken derives over 50% of its calories from fat. The original Kentucky Fried Chicken thigh contains 294 calories with 61% calories from fat.

After extensive product research in 1990, Burger King came out with Burger King broiler, a barbecued white-meat chicken breast sandwich served on an oat bran bun to meet "Americans' increasing appetite for chicken." It also jazzed up its newly designed low-calorie (all under 300 calories) chef's salad, chunky chicken salad, and garden salad by introducing actor Paul Newman's "Newman's Own" dressings. A package contains 170 calories with 95% of its calories from fat, and 762 milligrams sodium. In addition, Burger King has added Weight Watchers ranch dressing at only 35 calories per package.