CalorieKing.com Staff
Store-bought baking is often high in trans fatThe Nutrition Panel on food is now another line longer as food manufacturers follow a new law requiring them to list the trans fat content of products.
Fat is a major source of energy for the body and aids in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K, and carotenoids. But while unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are beneficial when consumed in moderation, saturated and trans fats are not.
Read on to learn why trans fat can be harmful and what you can to do avoid it.
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Trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil – a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing this fat.
Trans fat can be found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils. Unlike other fats, the majority of trans fat is formed when food manufacturers turn liquid oils into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine. A small amount of trans fat is found naturally - primarily in dairy products, some meat, and other animal-based foods.
Like saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, trans fat raises the LDL, or “bad” cholesterol that increases your risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).
As of 2006, manufacturers of conventional foods and some dietary supplements are required to list trans fat on a separate line, immediately under saturated fat on the nutrition label.
This is good news, especially if you are concerned about reducing the amount of unhealthy fat in your diet. Before 2006, consumers had no way of knowing how much trans fat was in the food they were buying.
Food manufacturers are allowed to list amounts of trans fat with less than 0.5 gram (1/2 g) as 0 (zero) on the Nutrition Facts panel. As a result, you may see a few products that list 0 grams trans fat on the label. This means, if the ingredient list includes "shortening," "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil," or "hydrogenated vegetable oil" , the food contains very small amounts (less than 0.5 g) of trans fat per serving.
Although the updated Nutrition Facts panel will list the amount of trans fat in a product, it will not show a Percent Daily Value (%DV).
The new labeling requirements mean that you will know for the first time how much of all three – saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol – are in the foods you choose. Identifying saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol on the food label gives you information you need to make food choices that help reduce your risk of heart disease.
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Next: Making good fat choices
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