Trans Fat Ban

The federal government earlier this week moved to ban the trans fats found in some of Americans' favorite foods.  The rule by the Food and Drug Administration notes that partially hydrogenated oils – the primary source of artificial trans fats in processed foods – are no longer generally recognized as safe for use in food. Under the rule, food companies have three years – until June 18, 2018 – to remove them from products in grocery stores.  

Trans fat intake has been linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease by contributing to the buildup of plaque inside the arteries that may cause a heart attack. For this reason, the Food and Drug Administration requires that the trans fat content of food be declared on the Nutrition Facts label to help consumers determine how each food contributes to their overall dietary intake of trans fat. Many processed foods contain partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the major dietary source of industrially-produced trans fat in processed food. 
 

Now, the FDA is taking a step to remove artificial trans fat from the food supply. This step is expected to reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year. 

Some manufacturers still use partially hydrogenated oils in processed foods. Some examples of foods which may contain partially hydrogenated oils include: 

-crackers, cookies, cakes, frozen pies and other baked goods

-snack foods (such as some microwave popcorn)

-stick margarines

-coffee creamers

-refrigerated dough products (such as biscuits and cinnamon rolls)

-ready-to-use frostings
 

Now that partially hydrogenated oil is no longer generally recognized as safe, FDA is providing a three-year compliance period. This will allow industry to gradually phase out the remaining uses over a three-year period, or seek food additive approval for those uses.
 

Source: Food and Drug Administration