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The TF-Files

The TF-Files

To paraphrase a famous TV catchphrase: The trans fats are out there.

In the e-Alert “Barking Up the Right Tree” (9/19/07) I mentioned that I’ve been having a hard time finding products that list more than zero grams of trans fats on nutrition panels, even though the FDA has required such listings for well over a year. So I gave HSI members a Trans Fats Challenge to check nutrition details on the products in their cupboards and on grocery shelves, and then let us know if they could find any that actually fess up to containing this incredibly unhealthy fat.

Well they took the challenge and ran with it! Here are the results from our nutrition panel detectives

Zero-some

This first note, from a member named Bill, perfectly captures the trans fats paradox, in which the FDA has changed the rules of math: “zero” no longer means “none”.

“Regarding your observation about supposed ‘zero’ levels of trans fats, I have noticed that many products claiming zero trans fats still list partially hydrogenated oil among their ingredients. Since hydrogenation is the source of most trans fats, it stands to reason that the ‘zero’ is a bogus number, at least as far as these particular products are concerned.”

“About half of the frozen pizzas at the grocery store have trans-fats on the label.” Fred

“We recently bought can of All Vegetable Shortening. The label indicates 3 gms of transfat per each 13 gm serving, or 23% transfat.” Guy

“Here are a few items I found showing the grams of Trans Fat on the package label.
Betty Crocker/General Mills Scalloped 100% Real Potatoes Twin Pack – cup serving (27g) Trans Fat 0.5g
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes Twin Pack – cup serving (25g) Trans Fat 0.5g
Super Moist Carrot Cake 18 oz package – 1/10 pkg serving (51g) Trans Fat 1g
Hamburger Helper Philly Cheesesteak – 1/2 cup serving (37g) Trans Fat 0.5g
Krusteaz Pie Crust Mix 20 oz package – 2 Tablespoons serving (18g) Trans Fat 1.5
Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix – cup serving (27g) Trans Fat 1g
Essensia Wheat Table Crackers – 3 crackers serving (15g) Trans Fat 1g” Dave

“Some Contessa frozen dinners list 1-3 grams of transfats per serving.” Linda

“I found one item in our pantry with trans fat of more than 0 g – Hormel corned beef hash with 1 g trans fat per serving. There is another Hormel product, Dinty Moore chicken stew, that I suspect may have at least 1 g trans fat, but the trans fat content is not listed on the label.” Mike

Sweet stuff

A member named Eric writes, “Would you believe that Trans Fat is in candy?” As many members discovered, there are plenty of sweet treats that harbor trans fats. Eric continues, “Just this morning, I tossed out a bag of Skittles because the ingredient list listed a Trans Fat!”

“Found one in my corporate candy machine. Goetze’s ‘Original’ Caramel Creams (1.9 oz package). Plain as day – Trans Fat 1g.” Stephen

“From the Goetze candy website, product information (goetzecandy.com). You’ve got to give them credit for not hiding anything.” Stephen

“I have found several products with more than 0 grams of trans fats on the ingredient label (check the cookie aisle) but right now I’m looking at a 2 oz. package of bite size Famous Amos cookies that my mother-in-law buys in bulk. In one 2 oz. package, it lists 4 grams of trans fats!” Bobby and Jenna

“I find many foods in the grocery store that still have trans fats! Just one example is Marie Callender frozen pies, which have far more than a half gram of trans fats. Many of the prepared frozen dinner entrees still have significant amounts. Many brands of tortilla chips also have non-zero amounts.” Jack

“Take a look at the “poppin’ fresh” refrigerator dinner rolls and sweet rolls. Pillsbury Grands have 2 or 3 grams per roll, I forget when I looked. I have found other products listing 1 and in one case, half a gram. Some cookies and crackers. Basically stuff we ought to know better than to eat anyway.” Nancy

“Duncan-Hines Signature Dessert, dreamsicle cake mix, lists 0.5 grams of trans fats.” Bill

Snacks and more snacks

Candy, cookies, cakes, pies The most disturbing thing about all these trans fats-laden snacks is that they’re exactly what kids love and (given the choice) eat in abundance. But it’s not just sweet snacks – plenty of salty snacks land squarely in the trans fat ranks.

“The last time I was at the grocery I noticed that several brands/types of microwave popcorn list trans fats on the nutritional listing. I left them behind. I’m going to buy an air popper instead.” Nancy

“Pop Weaver Microwave Light Butter Popcorn lists 1.5g trans fat” O. Smith

“An egregious example: I was using Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, liquid form, also touted as having zero trans fat per serving (which if I recall, was 5 spritz of liquid). Because I thought it was safe, I was using this with careless abandon, preparing huge bowls of popcorn, and spritzing the dickens out of it. Later found out that they were taking advantage of the .5 or less deception. As a result, I was actually taking in massive amounts of trans fat. It’s another example of how our government is oriented toward increasing corporate profits, and not toward the well-being of consumers. Our lobbyists aren’t nearly as plentiful, powerful or effective as theirs are.” Norm

“You are right; I don’t see any trans fat in most products, but one exception that we buy regularly. It is a canola margarine with the following: Total fat – 11 grams Trans fat – 1 gram Saturated fat – 1 gram Since butter is same total fat with 7 grams of saturated fat, I am figuring that we are better off.” Randy

Well, Randy, that’s exactly what they want you to think. But actually, ANY other fat is healthier than trans fats.

As Randy and Norm discovered, margarine is the King of Trans Fats. If some food industry scientist were to come up with a true trans fats-free margarine, it simply wouldn’t be margarine anymore.

Many thanks to all these members who took the Trans Fats Challenge. And now, since you’ve already pulled those TF products out of your pantry to check the labels, put them where they belong – in the trash!

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