Large corporations are perpetuating the myth of "0 grams trans fats"
Letter to the Editor
Casey Tout
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Opinion
Two years ago, I wrote an article for The Contraband that you can find in the archived November 13, 2006 issue. In the article, "Would You Like Death With That?" I highlighted the foods we eat here in America, a diet that stereotypically includes foods that are considered unhealthy. In particular, however, I focused on trans fats, a nasty little addition to many fast foods, and surprisingly for quite some time, products found in local supermarkets. Here is a quote from the article I wrote:
"Trans fats, or trans fatty acids, fill the foods of many [fast food] restaurants. ? Though these fats are occasionally found in nature, most of the trans fats found in fast-food are processed from hydrogenation of plain oils and animal fats. Since the creation of this different type of fat, many companies have found trans fats to be more profitable, as it is cheaper, has a higher melting point and lasts much longer than traditional fats.? The problem with trans fats, however, lies in the fact that 'trans fatty acids are not essential and provide no known benefit to human health;' furthermore, 'from a nutritional standpoint, the consumption of trans fatty acids results in considerable potential harm' by raising bad cholesterol and lowering good cholesterol.? Trans fats have been linked to coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and liver dysfunction, among others. Sadly enough, many fast foods have plenty of these fats in them."
I also spoke of how many companies were planning to slowly phase out the use of trans fats in their products. At the time the article went to print, some companies had already done away with the use of this type of fat.
In the two years since then, you may have noticed many food labels proudly proclaiming "0 grams trans fat!" Evidently, companies have used the trans fat scare as a marketing ploy, glorifying a trans fat-free product that should have never had them in it to begin with. I recently discovered, however, that we as consumers may be getting deceived by the organization that is supposed to protect us: the FDA.
"Trans fats, or trans fatty acids, fill the foods of many [fast food] restaurants. ? Though these fats are occasionally found in nature, most of the trans fats found in fast-food are processed from hydrogenation of plain oils and animal fats. Since the creation of this different type of fat, many companies have found trans fats to be more profitable, as it is cheaper, has a higher melting point and lasts much longer than traditional fats.? The problem with trans fats, however, lies in the fact that 'trans fatty acids are not essential and provide no known benefit to human health;' furthermore, 'from a nutritional standpoint, the consumption of trans fatty acids results in considerable potential harm' by raising bad cholesterol and lowering good cholesterol.? Trans fats have been linked to coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and liver dysfunction, among others. Sadly enough, many fast foods have plenty of these fats in them."
I also spoke of how many companies were planning to slowly phase out the use of trans fats in their products. At the time the article went to print, some companies had already done away with the use of this type of fat.
In the two years since then, you may have noticed many food labels proudly proclaiming "0 grams trans fat!" Evidently, companies have used the trans fat scare as a marketing ploy, glorifying a trans fat-free product that should have never had them in it to begin with. I recently discovered, however, that we as consumers may be getting deceived by the organization that is supposed to protect us: the FDA.
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