Originally published December 27 2005
Kellogg to integrate healthier soy oil to help reduce trans fats
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Food giant Kellogg has announced that it is making its products, particularly Cheez-Its and Pop Tarts, healthier by incorporating a healthier soy-based oil to get away from trans fatty oils.
Kellogg Co., the world's largest cereal maker, said on Friday it plans to reduce artery-clogging trans fats in some of its products and called on others to invest in a new variety of soybean oil it said is healthier than other trans-fat-free oils.
Kellogg said it plans to replace trans-fat-producing oils in products like Cheez-It crackers and Pop Tarts toaster pastries with Monsanto Co.'s Vistive, a soy oil introduced last year that reduces the need for partial hydrogenation.
The move by the maker of Frosted Flakes and Keebler cookies comes nearly two years after big food manufacturers like Kraft Foods Inc., PepsiCo Inc. unit Frito Lay and Tyson Foods Inc. announced plans to eliminate or reduce trans fats due to growing consumer concerns about health problems like obesity and diabetes.
In an interview, President and Chief Operating Officer David Mackay said Kellogg was committed to using low linolenic soybean oil because, unlike other oils, it does not alter the taste of food and doesn't increase levels of saturated fat.
"The issue is really availability," Mackay said, adding that there was not yet enough supply to be able to reformulate the company's Keebler cookies.
About 80 million pounds of low linolenic soybean oil were expected to be produced in 2005, though that is expected to climb to 400 million pounds in 2006, according to the Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils.
Many have begun using palm oil, which contains no trans fats but is unpopular among nutritionists because it is higher in cholesterol-raising saturated fat than soy oil.
None of Kellogg's cereals contain trans fats, Mackay said.
A Kraft spokeswoman said it uses a variety of oils in its products, including soy, canola and palm, and that it was committed to making sure saturated fat levels are not increased once trans fats are removed.
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