Wednesday, July 09, 2003
New trans fat labeling
Trans fat hasn't gotten the attention its infamous cousin, saturated fat, earned through warnings and labels. That's about to change: After 10 years of debate, the government is requiring food labels to reveal exact levels of the artery clogger.
Trans fat is the stuff that helps make such foods as doughnuts, french fries, crackers and fried chicken taste so good. But it's at least as dangerous to the heart as saturated fat -- and many doctors consider it worse. And until now, consumers have had no way of knowing how much trans fat they eat.
Food and Drug Administration regulations unveiled Wednesday will require nutrition labels to include a new line listing the amount of trans fat in each food right under the amount of saturated fat.
Add the two lines together to learn the total of heart-risky fats in every serving.
-clip-
Saturated fat is found primarily in meat and other products containing animal fat. People are advised to eat no more than 20 grams a day, about 10 percent of calories.
Some surveys suggest trans fat comprises up to another 10 percent. Both types can increase the risk of heart disease, although some research suggests trans fat may be the worst culprit.
Trans fat is in numerous products, from meats and dairy products to pastries. The most common source is partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, where liquid oil is turned into a solid to protect against spoiling and maintain long-term flavor.
The whole story here. Thanks Lindsey.
posted by chris at 3:06 PM
------------------
|
