We received this great question from Kitchn reader Meredith:
More and more packaged foods are claiming to be free of trans fat even though partially hydrogenated oils are still included on their ingredients lists. How is this possible?
Can you spot the paradox in the label above?!
What this comes down to, unfortunately, is labeling regulations. The FDA requires that products containing any amount of trans fat list that fat as one of the ingredients. This is very often listed as "partially hydrogenated oil," as Meredith mentions.
At the same time, if that amount of trans fat is less than 0.5 grams, manufacturers are actually allowed to say that their product contains zero trans fats in the nutrition information. Manufacturers can also market their product as being trans fat-free.
The American Heart Association recommends a daily intake of no more than 2 grams of trans fat per day. If we're buying products that are claiming to contain zero trans fats but still list them as an ingredient, we could easily be consuming our recommended daily dose (or more!) of trans fats in just a few servings those products.
The key is to read the list of ingredients on any processed food you buy. Look for words like "partially hydrogenated" or "shortening." These are foods that should be eaten in moderation and with an eye to your overall daily consumption of trans fats.
• For more information on trans fats, check out the American Heart Association website.
• The Mayo Clinic also gives a scientific perspective on the effect of trans fats on our health.
Related: Which is Better? Vegetable Oil vs. Olive Oil
(Image: Flickr member Timothy Valentine licensed under Creative Commons)
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shortening, while certainly something you want in moderation, is not necessarily hydrogenated.
oofs: "Shortening (partially hydrogentated palm, soybean, and cottonseed oils)" is definitely hydrogentated
I think oofs just meant that shortening can be used as a general term for any fat used in making crusts and pastries. For example, butter might be referred to as "shortening" in a list of ingredients. However, butter does not contain trans fats like a hydrogenated vegetable oil shortening does.
Anyway, the lesson is READ CAREFULLY. This type of false advertising makes me angry. It is intentionally misleading and shows little regard for the consumer.
If it is like here in Canada, companies may tell their products are something-free if they contain less than a certain % of that "something". So, in reality, there is a very little part of trans fat in your cake, I think that there should be less than 0,5g/portion to be considered as trans fat free.
The trick is how companies determinate the weight of a real portion... pretty sure it is exactly the part that contains about 0.4g of trans fat!
The FDA is actually starting to crack down on this type of labeling. The FDA would issue this company a warning letter for this as they recently did to David's Cookies (http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm224888.htm). The phrase “TRANS FAT FREE” meets the definition of a nutrient content claim because it characterizes the level of trans fat, which is a nutrient of the type required to be declared in nutrition labeling. This product is misbranded because its label does not contain, prominently and in immediate proximity to the nutrient content claim, the required disclosure statement: “See nutrition information for fat, and saturated fat content.” 21 USC § 343(r)(2)(B). Such a disclosure statement is required for a food that bears a nutrient content claim and contains more than 13 g of total fat, 4 g of saturated fat. 21 CFR 101.13(h)(1). The Nutrition Facts panel for this product declares the nutrient values of 20 g total fat, and 8 g saturated fat per serving.
Daniel J. Brooker
http://www.brookerlaboratories.com
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Nutritional Analysis and Food Label FDA Regulatory Assistance
Here is the FDA Warning Letter Link
Courtesy of Brooker Laboratories
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Nutritional Analysis and Food Label FDA Regulatory Assistance