FDA Proposes Ban on Trans Fats

The Editors at Sharecare

By Darria Long Gillespie, MD, MBA

Did you hear about this week's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement proposing that trans fats (also known as "partially-hydrogenated oils") be banned from our processed foods? What does this mean? And why should you care?

Research has proven that trans fats are linked to heart disease-a report by the Institute of Medicine stated that trans fats directly increase your "bad" LDL cholesterol, which then raises your risk of heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that removing trans fats from our processed foods would prevent 7,000 deaths from heart disease and up to 20,000 heart attacks each year. As a result, the FDA (whose job is to make sure our food is safe), has stated that with the known increased risk of heart disease, foods with trans fats can no longer be "generally recognized as safe."

Find out what Dr. Oz says about trans fats

Where can trans fats be found?
Trans fats exist in a variety of processed foods such as crackers, cookies, cakes, frozen pies and other baked goods; snack foods (such as microwave popcorn) and frozen pizza; vegetable shortening and stick margarine; coffee creamers; refrigerated dough products (such as biscuits and cinnamon rolls) and ready-to-use frostings.

Of note: If the proposed ban goes through, trans fats will not be entirely eliminated from all of our foods-they naturally occur in small amounts in meat and dairy products, as well as in some edible oils (fully hydrogenated oils). These would not be affected. However, artificial, industrially produced trans fats would no longer be manufactured.

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What will change?
As of January 2006, the FDA has required that companies list trans fat on the Nutrition Facts label, increasing consumer awareness. You've probably seen foods labeled as "no trans fat" or "trans fat-free." Right now, there's no immediate change-the FDA has made this proposal for the public to discuss for sixty days and will make a decision at the end of that period. So stay tuned for what will likely be lots of debate, and the final word in a couple of months.

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What should you do in the meantime?
As an ER doctor, I see the devastation of heart disease every day-and am seeing it in even younger patients as a result of our diets. So, it's important to pay attention to a product that we know raises our risk. There are still some pitfalls out there, so follow these tips:

1. Even if a product reads "trans fat free," check the Nutrition Facts label. Labeling requirements allow that if a product has less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, it can be labeled as having 0 grams of trans fat. That's why it's important to check the ingredients list, too. If "partially hydrogenated" oil is listed, that means that trans fats are present. Interestingly enough, "fully" or "completely" hydrogenated oil does not contain trans fat.

2. Don't forget the other culprits. Just like "fat free" doesn't necessarily mean that a food is good for you, "trans fat free" doesn't mean that a food is perfectly healthy, either. Manufacturers have gotten smart to the "trans fat" ban and have begun to substitute in other kinds of fats, many of which are high in saturated fat, which is also unhealthy in large doses. The bottom line? Pay attention to all fats contained in food products: trans fats, saturated fats and unsaturated fats. Look for those with less than 7-10% of their fat calories from saturated fats. Unsaturated fats (such as olive, peanut and canola oils) are a healthier alternative, and just as delicious!


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