Things You'll Need:
- Your eyes to read labels carefully.
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Step 1
Read ingredient lists of even the foods that proclaim that they are trans fat free. If the ingredient list has the words partially hydrogenated oil, or vegetable shortening on it, steer clear of the food. As of 2006, the US FDA (food and drug administration) placed a stringent law in place that requires every food that contains trans fats to declare so on its label. However, foods that contain half a gram of tran fat can be declared "trans fat free" on the label. Manufactures have learned to use this loop hole to their advantage by reducing serving sizes.
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Step 2
When eating at a restaurant don't eat deep fried foods, and desserts. Most restaurants still use partially hydrogenated fats to deep fry their foods. If you live in New York, consider yourself lucky. New York is the only state in the US that has banned the use of trans fats in restaurants.
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Step 3
Don't buy bakery foods such as pies, cakes, donuts and cookies, unless the package specifically says that butter was used to make these goods. You can safely assume that any inexpensive unlabeled baked product contains trans fats.
Comments
rewrite810 said
on 1/28/2009 Great, helpful tips. Thanks for sharing. 5*
Arathi said
on 1/24/2009 Exactly, it is the process. Vegetable shortening is made by passing hydrogen gas through vegetable oil. Vegetable oil goes rancid quickly, whereas nothing happens to shortening. The food industry loves it for this reason.
LorilynFarms said
on 1/24/2009 Vegetable shortening is trans fat but vegetable oil is not? Is it the process? No wonder I always get sick lately eating at KFC- I LOVE their chicken but after eating it, I'm sick.
wordstock said
on 1/24/2009 We stopped using trans fats a long time ago. Even my favorite chips had them. Some food producers have removed them so keep reading the labels. Good information!
meacham01 said
on 1/24/2009 You have a very interesting and educational article. Thanks.