In the News: Trans Fats

It's probably easiest to start at the beginning: What's a trans fat and where does it come from?

Trans fats are a type of solid fat (think butter or lard -- AKA saturated fat). They are found naturally in the food supply, namely meat and milk, in very small amounts. This is not the type that has the FDA concerned enough to remove the GRAS label (more on this later) from trans fats.

The type that concerns most people is what results from partially hydrogenated oils. What's the difference? Chemically, not much. But in terms of supply, hydrogenated oils are much more abundant than the minimal amount that can be found naturally.

Trans fats aren't a new concept by any means. The hydrogenation process was discovered in the early 1900s, and it was used as a way to turn a liquid fat (vegetable oil, which is cheap) into a solid fat (which has a longer shelf-life and is easier to store and transport) by blasting oil with hydrogen. So now we have a fat that is easy to store, easy to transport, lasts a long time AND is cheap. When they were first introduced, it was widely held that these types of fats were less damaging to the body than saturated fats, and even than natural trans fats.

We now have more information which tells us that trans fats are harmful to the body (particularly the vascular systems, think cholesterol and arteries). This isn't good news, especially since prior to about 2000, they were very prevalent in the food supply. Coupled with this is the recognition that saturated fats (and fats in general) aren't really the super-villains they are made out to be. Maintaining cell integrity, coating neurons and boosting immunity are only some of the things fats do for us!

So, what is the FDA really doing here? Ultimately, this is a matter of labeling and classification. GRAS, or "generally recognized as safe" is a label for manufactured food products and additives that indicates to the public that items are safe, so long as they are used the way the manufacturer intended. In the case of trans fats, this means that they are safe to eat. Or did, until last week.

This is a fight that's been happening for awhile, and all across the globe. In 1994, CSPI (the Center for Science in the Public Interest) called for the labeling of added trans fats in food products (this happened in 2003, and took effect by 2006). In 2003, Denmark passed legislation that essentially banned their use. In the US, various states and municipalities (including NYC, California and Washington State) have passed different types of legislation banning or regulating their use in restaurants.

What's next? Well, as it happens, the use of trans fats in food is down -- by over 50% -- since 2000. Additionally, other retailers, including Wal Mart, McDonalds, Burger King and KFC have all either elimintated trans fats or have current timelines in place for the removal from their products. In the next sixty days, the FDA will be accepting comments about this initiative before handing down a final decision. If the GRAS label is indeed removed, a deadline will be established to remove additive trans fats from processed foods.

To view the FDA press release: http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm373939.htm

- Les, MS RD LD