Information About The Trans Fat Ban

Ready-to-eat foods form the staple diet of most people living alone, as well as pastries, donuts, and other baked products. All of them contain a common ingredient - trans fat. The US FDA has given food manufacturers till the end of 2018 to come up with substitutes, after which it will ban any product that contains trans fat. This Buzzle post tries to find out the reason behind the ban on trans fat.

Tagged Under: Unsaturated Fats

Trans fat consumption increases risk of cardivascular diseases

Zero Percent
Soylent is a energy drink advertised as a staple meal consisting of zero percent trans fat and is preferred by vegans and health-conscious consumers in North America.
In a world that is fast becoming selfie-obsessed, nothing drives us to eat healthy more than to look perfect for the cameras. Glowing, blemish-free skin is worth dieting for. Having home-cooked food with fat-free butter used as a substitute, healthy living doesn't come easier than this. But, as consumers, we hardly read the fine print and buy foods that are trans fat-free. So, what exactly is so bad about trans fat that we need to avoid it completely?

Trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat that behaves like a saturated fat. Now, if this fat is consumed in huge quantities, it can increase the risk of many cardiovascular diseases. The pastries and cakes made by your favorite baker, french fries and burgers that we eat only once in a while, all use oils that contain trans fat.

After much deliberation, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to ban the uses of trans fatty acids in any form and has given major restaurants and processed food makers a duration of 3 years to search for a substitute to make America trans-fat-free. Since many of our foods wouldn't taste the same, it has resulted in a heated debate in lieu of the government's decision to ban such a harmful substance.

What is trans fat?

● Trans fat are saturated fats found in animals such as sheep, cows, and pigs. Consuming the meat of these animals is considered healthy, since the amount of trans fat found in them is pretty minimal.

● Trans fat found in these animals contain conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and are recommended by doctors to prevent heart disease.

● Trans fat owe their popularity to German inventor, Wilhelm Normann, who invented the process of hydrogenation in 1930, as a substitute to butter. This led to the finding of cheaper alternatives and the creation of vegetable shortening and margarine. His formula was sold by Procter & Gamble under the name of Crisco.

● Normal vegetable oils that have undergone the process of hydrogenation have high amounts of trans fat. The process involves turning unsaturated fat into a solid form that is mixed in vegetable oils or partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) that is used for frying foods.

● Trans fat is found in margarine, cheese, vegetable shortening, lard, fried foods and ready-to-eat products.

● They are also found in coffee creamers, donuts, biscuits, and other baked goods.

Where are they used?

● They are used in ready-to-bake products and ready-to-cook products like frozen foods, and most fast-foods. Trans fat are used in these products to give them a longer shelf life.

Reason for the ban

● Earlier, the FDA had permitted food manufacturers to mention trans-fat-free on their products if each serving had less than 0.5 grams of trans fat. Many manufacturers actually ran with it and even advertised it to entice consumers. But these foods, if consumed in excess can cause obesity, clog the arteries leading to heart congestion or worse.

● Trans fat increases the LDL (bad cholesterol) and reduces HDL (good cholesterol) in our body.

● Since 2013, trans fat has been recognized as unsafe and considered an illegal food additive.

● According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, removing trans fat from foods can prevent up to 20,000 heart attacks ever year.

Other nations that have banned trans fat

● Denmark has made it illegal to have foods that contain more than 2 percent trans fat.

● Countries such as Netherlands, Costa Rica, Brazil, and South Korea have advocated similar policies to battle the fat increasing menace.

Benefits of going Trans-fat-free

● Eating home cooked food, instead of foods filled with trans fatty acids will reduce the risk of heart disease.

● Trans fat foods have zero nutritional value and only increase the risk of obesity. This can be prevented by indulging in lean meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables that are high in nutrients.

● Indulging in foods that contain healthy fats, such as olives, avocados, almonds, and coconut oil, can minimize the artery blockage and keep the blood pressure in check. These fats contain omega-3 and omega-6 acids, which improve the blood flow and enhance the functions of the brain and heart.

The American Heart Association actually recommends having less than 2 grams of trans fat per day. Though many countries have banned the use of trans fats outright, Canada and Japan still advocates its use.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/information-about-the-trans-fat-ban.html