Trans fat now appears on the Nutrition Facts panel on all packaged goods and dietary supplements. This new food label dictate from the USDA took effect January 1, and manufacturers have been busy reformulating their crackers, cakes and cookies, because health experts advise avoiding trans fat.
Studies show that both trans fat and saturated fat contribute to increased "bad" LDL cholesterol levels -- a risk for the number one killer of Americans, coronary heart disease. But, trans fat is double trouble, because research shows it both reduces “good” HDL cholesterol and raises “bad” cholesterol.
Consumers now can quickly identify the grams of trans fat in foods, along with total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, all listed on the Nutrition Facts panel since 1993. Knowing what’s in a serving of food helps consumers make healthy choices.
But, take this labeling news with a grain of salt. It seems that food manufacturers have consumers jumping through hoops to get to the truth.
In the movie A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson taunts Tom Cruise by saying, “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” Well, we want the truth. In fact, we demand it! It’s hard to understand why consumers put up with this type of half- or quarter-truth. But, it is what it is! It’s a step toward the whole truth. But, we’re not there yet, so we need to be forewarned in order to take the proper action.
The “Truth” in Labeling is a Lie
The problem is, a food can contain hydrogenated fat (trans fat) and still be labeled “zero” grams of trans fat. Why? Because the FDA allows any food that contains 0.5 grams per serving to be labeled as zero.
Half a gram doesn’t seem like a lot, so why am I grousing? Because most people don’t eat the servings listed on the label. They eat more. And, they’re probably eating a few different foods each day that contain a half-gram of trans fat each, which adds up to many grams weekly.
The 2002 summary statement by the Institute of Medicine on trans fatty acids concluded that there was no safe level of trans fatty acids in the human diet, and advised consumption be “as low as possible.”
Since the new label law applies only to foods manufactured after January 1, 2006, it’s possible that many labels won’t include this information for quite a while. Foods manufactured in December 2005 or before are still available without trans fat on the label. So, let the buyer beware.
Fat vs. Trans Fat: I’m Soooooo Confused!
Here’s a riddle: if it’s trans fat-free, is it healthier than the original? Answer: not necessarily!
When the original trans fat is replaced by oils containing saturated fat, you’re not better off. And, too many fat calories add up to -- you guessed it -- weight gain. Crackers, cookies, cakes and chips, ice cream, salad dressings, frozen entrees and sauces. All of these products may not contain trans fat, but the fat they contain isn’t necessarily good for you. Take a good look at what you’re eating!
