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