| There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken | | | | responded to these changes for consumers with |
| center stage in public discourse about | | | | trans fat info and guidance to understanding |
| dietary practices. You can't turn on the TV, | | | | the new labels. See the FDA website at of |
| open a newspaper or walk past the office | | | | further contention exist, most notably |
| water cooler these days without hearing a | | | | because the FDA is choosing not to list a % |
| debate about this nutrient du jour. | | | | Daily Value (%DV) for trans fat. Although it |
| Recently, however, increasing attention is | | | | admits that scientific reports show a link |
| being given to an all but forgotten part of | | | | between trans fat and coronary heart disease, |
| our diet. Move over, carbohydrates: fat is | | | | the FDA states that none of these studies |
| making a comeback in the headlines. More | | | | have provided a specific reference value. |
| specifically, trans fat.Of the four types of | | | | This has enraged anti-trans fat advocates, |
| dietary fat (monounsaturated, | | | | who consider the decision not to list daily |
| polyunsaturated, saturated and trans), the | | | | values a cop-out due to pressure from the |
| focus recently has been on trans fat. | | | | food industry, not to insufficient evidence |
| Abundant in margarine, shortening, packaged | | | | of harm (check out for a comprehensive and |
| baked goods and French fries to name a few, | | | | excellent review of the latest trans fat |
| trans fat is a widely used ingredient for | | | | advocacy issues).Unlike the FDA's specific |
| food manufacturers because it is cheap and | | | | daily requirements for both saturated fat and |
| contributes to increased shelf life. It is | | | | cholesterol already in place, some experts |
| listed as "partially hydrogenated vegetable | | | | feel this lack of specificity for trans fat |
| oil" and "vegetable shortening" on product | | | | allotment in our diet is akin to allowing the |
| ingredient lists.Hydrogenation is the process | | | | consumer to believe that any amount is |
| of heating an oil and passing hydrogen | | | | acceptable. Thus, the possibility of a |
| bubbles through it. The fat's density is | | | | veritable free-for-all on trans fat |
| increased, and food manufacturers use it | | | | consumption is feared.The race is now on for |
| frequently because it gives products a richer | | | | food manufacturers to produce foods free of |
| butter flavor. Saturated butter is much more | | | | trans fatIn April 2004, Kraft Foods announced |
| expensive to use, so manufacturers reduce | | | | the introduction of three new brands of the |
| costs by using partially hydrogenated | | | | popular Oreo cookie containing zero grams of |
| oils.Partially hydrogenated oils, however, | | | | trans fat. Other manufactures will surely |
| have a much different effect on the body than | | | | follow suit and it is likely that we will be |
| even the demonized saturated fats. We all | | | | seeing an explosion of trans fat-free |
| know that we need to limit saturated fat in | | | | (although not necessarily nutritious) |
| our diets, but specific amounts, although | | | | products, particularly snack foods.Since we |
| small, have been deemed acceptable, and even | | | | have a while to wait until all manufacturers |
| help to facilitate a variety of processes for | | | | are required to change their product labels, |
| the body. Trans fat, however, provides no | | | | consumers need to know how to recognize trans |
| positive effects whatsoever.Studies have | | | | fat in products to reduce intake. Read every |
| consistently shown that trans fat raises LDL | | | | ingredient label before a product is |
| (bad) cholesterol and lowers HDL (good) | | | | purchased. If the list contains the words |
| cholesterol. It contributes to clogging of | | | | "partially hydrogenated," you know it |
| the arteries and type 2 diabetes. Trans fat | | | | contains trans fat. Shortening and margarine |
| has also been linked to an estimated 30,000 | | | | almost always contain trans fat. This |
| or more premature heart disease deaths each | | | | knowledge is particularly important with |
| year.In March 2004, the Food and Drug | | | | regard to processed foods, since they usually |
| Administration updated their website pages | | | | contain a large amount of ingredients, most |
| concerning trans fat and regulations | | | | with long, odd looking and hard to pronounce |
| concerning labeling laws. Although the FDA | | | | names. For further guidance on how to avoid |
| first proposed trans fat labeling in 1999, it | | | | trans fat in products, check out Dr. Gabe |
| wasn't until July 2003 that Health and Human | | | | Mirkin's website ( an excellent resource on |
| Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced | | | | nutrition and trans fat info.Conflicting as |
| the new trans fat ruling. Even then, the | | | | it may be, we'll always be inundated with |
| guidelines proved to be less than acceptable | | | | media attention on the latest focus on |
| to health experts who were pushing for | | | | nutrition. But we still need to be aware of |
| immediate regulations: the ruling gave | | | | the facts concerning our health. Coverage on |
| manufacturers until January 1, 2006 to | | | | fats was all the rage in the 80's, for the |
| comply.Some food manufacturers, however, have | | | | last decade all we've heard about is carbs. |
| already started listing the ingredient on | | | | What's next? Well, there's always protein. |
| their nutritional labels, and the FDA has | | | | |