Originally published February 15 2006
Trans fat law is changing food industry practices and consumer behavior
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Timesleader.com analyzes the impact new trans fat labeling requirements are having on the consciousness of food consumers and manufacturers, who are having to revise their processes in the interest of public health.
Teaching them about nutrition through reading food labels helps solve them, she said.
On Jan. 1, new rules on food labeling began making it easier for consumers to avoid artery-clogging trans fats, which have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Rather than face an undesirable label, Kraft and other large food manufacturers have announced they will reduce or eliminate trans fats.
And food activists are calling for labeling in restaurants.
If a product ingredient is listed as "partially hydrogenated," that means that at least some trans fats are created in the product, though the amount can range from almost zero to a large portion of a food item's calories.
Trans fats are created during a manufacturing process that helps increase the shelf life and stabilize the flavor of foods.
But they can wreak havoc on humans, lowering good cholesterol, raising bad cholesterol and reducing the quality of everything from testosterone to breast milk.
Saturated fats raise the level of bad cholesterol, but they also provide some health benefit by raising the level of good cholesterol.
Though trans fats are found in small quantities naturally in dairy products, most Americans get their trans fats through heavily processed foods such as vegetable shortening, margarine, and snack foods like deep-fried chips and packaged breads, cookies and crackers.
Many food labels already contain trans fat listings, as companies have rolled out their new labels as their supplies of old ones ran out.
But not every new label was in place on Jan. 1, as stores use up products with old labels.
Also, some trans fat content can still receive a zero trans fat listing under the new rules, even if a hydrogenated oil is an ingredient.
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