Written By: Sofia Layarda, MPH
Title: Master of Public Health
Alumni: University of California, Berkeley
Last Updated on:
Table of Contents
You hear it over and over: read nutrition labels to know where the trans fat is hiding. However, that is only part of the story. Under FDA guidelines, foods labeled “zero trans fat” can still have up to 0.49 g trans fat per serving. Depending on the serving size specified, you may be gobbling up far more trans fat than you expected in one meal. The American Heart Association’s recommended limit for trans fat intake is a max of 2 g per day, but there is general agreement that the less trans fat you consume, the better.
If the ingredients list includes any vegetable oil that is partially hydrogenated, the food contains trans fat. Here are some examples of products we found that contain trans fat, even though the Nutrition Facts label shows zero grams of trans fat:
Note: The above is not a complete list at all. It is intended to show how prevalent partially hydrogenated oil is present in our food.
Because of huge consumer concern and the spotlight on the “evils” of trans fat, many food companies appear to be making the switch, where possible, to trans-fat-free ingredients. However, unless the labeling requirements around trans fat change, the only sure way to locate hidden trans fat is by looking at the ingredients list. Remember: any vegetable oil that is partially hydrogenated contains trans fat.
Whenever possible, avoid overly processed convenience foods, which often contain trans fats. And remember that just because a food has no trans fats, it’s not necessarily “healthy.” Trans fat was invented to emulate the role of saturated fats in cooking and baking, so foods that have (or used to have) trans fat in them will probably have a saturated fat source added back in. Watch out for plant-based saturated fats, such as palm or coconut oils, and avoid them too.
Alumni: University of California, Berkeley – Sofia believes in bringing back fun and pleasure into everyday eating. She loves cooking, and is constantly experimenting with ingredients, creating recipes and trying them out on family and friends. Her latest interest lies in finding realistic and practical ways of environmentally-friendly food/eating habits.
cholesterol, heart disease, heart smart, hydrogenated oil, partially hydrogenated oil, trans fat