The New Trans Fat: Interesterified Oil

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:45:00 -0700

As you know, I have been pretty thrilled about all the bans on trans fat happening worldwide, but of course food makers are finding a way to still make food cheap and unhealthy, without the trans fat. Enter Interesterified Oils.

Being confused about it myself, I decided to look to Mr. Seth Braun, natural health expert and author of healthyfastandcheap.com, because he's really done his research on this new type of oil:

Food manufacturers are getting around the trans fat labeling by mixing small amounts of fully hydrogenated oil with liquid polyunsaturate oils and calling “interesterified oil.” They claim that fully hydrogenated oil is healthier. Since there is less trans fat, they can sell this product to food manufacturers for use in commercial dressings, baked goods, candies and anything else that used to have partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredient list.

In plain english, interestification means mixing fully hydrogenated oil with liquid polyunsaturate oil to produce a consistency similar to partially hydrogenated oil, which is the source of trans fats. The solution to the trans fat problem; from the manufacturer perspective!

So what's the moral of the story? Read those labels folks. Food makers are in the business of not only making food, but also in the business of making money. If it has interesterified oils listed, chances are it has trans fat too.

Ghirardelli: It's Gourmet With a Side of Trans Fat

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:15:00 -0700

I picked up a bag of one of my favorite treats last night - Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Squares with Caramel filling. I know, they're not at all good for you, but they taste amazing.

Since they are a popular brand of gourmet chocolate, it didn't even occur to me to check the label. Maybe I should have a long time ago because once I saw the dreaded words - partially hydrogenated vegetable oil - I just about had a sugar crash.

WTF!! I am NOT happy about this. Why can't manufacturers just stop putting this crap in our food? At least you have to eat 3 whole squares in order to get just .5g of trans fat, but still - I'm trying to avoid this stuff altogether.

Fit's Tips: Learn from my mistake. Always read the label and check for trans fat and other unhealthy ingredients before you buy it. Remember to look for interesterified oil too. You can't just assume something is good for you just because you want it to be!