Monterey, CA Trans Fat Food Labeling Often Misleading

Consumers have done a good job trying to avoid trans fat after a number of research projects have linked them to higher risk of heart disease, strokes and other serious health problems.  However, researchers have found that labeling on a lot of commonly used products may be misleading.  A study which was published in the Journal Preventing Chronic Disease looked at 4,340 packaged foods and found that of the nearly 400 products that listed in the ingredients “partially hydrogenated oils,” the main dietary source of trans fat, only 15% reported that there was trans fat in the product on their labels.  The other 84% of products listed zero grams of trans fat on the label.  Current guidelines from the Food & Drug Administration allow food producers to list zero grams of trans fat on the label if the product contains less than 0.5 grams per serving.  Therefore, you need to be suspicious of any products that list partially hydrogenated oils on the label.