When Zero Trans Fat Isn't Zero

Food Labels May Be Misleading Consumers on Trans Fatty Acids

May 25, 2009

When people buy a product that says zero trans fats on the label, they assume they're getting none. However, that assumption may be wrong.

According to the Healthy Shopping Survey conducted by Greenfield Inc., 61 percent of adults say that “zero grams trans fats per serving” is the most important thing they look for on a label. However, products with this statement on the label may actually have up to .49 grams of trans fats and still meet the Food and Drug Administrations regulations for claiming to have zero trans fats.

How Much Trans Fat Is Too Much

Multiple servings of a food that claims to have zero trans fats can quickly add up. Intake of just 5 grams per day can increase your risk of heart disease by up to 25 percent.

Eating enough servings of a packaged food to get this much trans fat may seem like a lot, but spread out over a day, such as by having a muffin in the morning, snacks in the afternoon or evening, and fries with dinner, your intake can easily reach 5 grams, especially if serving sizes are large. And if your day includes a stop at a fast food restaurant, consider this: even a child's meal can have 10 grams of trans fats.

According to Health Canada, trans fats are present naturally in a few foods, such as beef and dairy products, and are produced when oils are partially hydrogenated to turn them into a semi-solid, such as margarine or shortening. These oils are used to improve the texture of commercial baked goods and snack foods.

Why Are Trans Fats So Bad?

Trans fatty acids are the worst type of fat because they not only raise the “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in our bodies but also lower the “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Even saturated fats are not as bad because although they raise the LDL cholesterol, they also raise the HDL cholesterol.

In 2007, Health Canada proposed strictly limiting trans fats in oils and processed foods. It gave food companies two years to make progress toward this or it would introduce regulations to force them to comply. Denmark banned trans fats in 2004, and the country has seen a 20 percent drop in heart disease since then.

Avoiding Trans Fats

The best way for consumers to avoid trans fats is to read the ingredient list. Most foods that contain trans fats will have partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in them. Also, follow the serving size on the label. Also, choose lower fat meats and dairy products more often and fry food less often.

The copyright of the article When Zero Trans Fat Isn't Zero in Proteins/Carb/Fats is owned by Karen Sheviak. Permission to republish When Zero Trans Fat Isn't Zero in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.