Artificial trans fat still in supermarkets despite heart risks (USA)

Marie Callender's pies, Pop Secret's microwave popcorns, and Long John Silver's Breaded Clam Strips all share a little secret: they are among many products that still contain high levels of artificial trans fat. Because trans fat is a potent cause of heart disease, the US federal government and the American Heart Association have urged consumers to avoid foods that contain it. After the Food and Drug Administration required trans fat to be listed on food labels, most large manufacturers removed partially hydrogenated oil, the source of artificial trans fat, from their products. And in response to lawsuits, bad publicity, and local and state-level restrictions, most large restaurant chains similarly stopped using the discredited ingredient. Thus, while many consumers might consider the problem solved, several large companies continue to market products containing unhealthy, and unnecessary amounts of trans fat. Marie Callender's Lattice Apple Pie (ConAgra Foods) contains 5 grams of trans fat per serving. Varieties of Pop Secret microwave popcorn (Diamond Foods) contain 4 or 5 grams of trans fat per serving. An order of Long John Silver's Breaded Clam Strips contains 7 grams of trans fat. While White Castle recently eliminated trans fat from most of its products, some regionally marketed pastries contain large amounts. White Castle's doughnuts contain a whopping 8 or 9 grams of trans fat per serving. The American Heart Association recommends that people limit their trans fat intake to no more than two grams per day. Since small amounts of trans fat occur naturally in beef and dairy products, that leaves very little, if any, room for artificial trans fat from partially hydrogenated oil - CSPI

Medics call for ban on trans-fats in UK food

"Calls to ban trans-fats from all foods in the UK have been backed by US public health experts. Trans-fats - solid fats found in margarines, cakes and fast food - are banned in some countries. An editorial in the British Medical Journal said 7,000 deaths a year could be prevented by a 1% reduction in consumption. But the Food Standards Agency said the UK's low average consumption made a complete ban unnecessary. In January this year, the UK Faculty of Public Health called for the consumption of trans-fats (also know as trans fatty acids) to be virtually eliminated. It says that although trans-fats make up 1% of the average UK adult food energy intake - below the 2% advised as a dangerous level - there are sections of the population where intake is far higher and these groups are being put at risk. In the BMJ article, doctors from Harvard Medical School backed this view and said bans in Denmark and New York City had effectively eliminated trans-fats, without reducing food availability, taste, or affordability. Many studies have shown harmful effects of trans-fats on heart health" - BBC

Health Department to regulate trans fats in foods (South Africa)

"The Department of Health is in the process of consulting with stakeholders with the intention to develop legislation aimed at the reduction of certain trans-fats, in particular trans fatty acids deriving from the process of partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil, present in certain processed and prepared foods currently for sale in South Africa. The development and implementation of the legislation will contribute significantly to the reduction in risk of chronic diseases of lifestyle associated with the presence of trans fatty acids in the diet of South Africans, in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, which was adopted in May 2004, at the 57th World Health Assembly (WHA). The Global Strategy fosters the formulation of national policies to improve, amongst others, diet, which provides a unique opportunity for the Department to assume a central role, through cooperation with relevant stakeholders, to implement regulatory measures that would reduce the intake of man-made trans fatty acids"

Trans fats affect blood flow

U.S. researchers say partially hydrogenated vegetable oils have trans fats that can interfere with blood flow. The study, scheduled to be published in the journal Atherosclerosis, finds trans fats reduce the amount of an enzyme - prostacyclin - that keeps blood flowing and helps prevents blood clots. "This is the first time that trans fatty acids have been shown to interfere with yet another part of the blood-flow process," study leader Fred Kummerow, emeritus at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says in a statement. "This study adds another piece of evidence to a long list that points to trans fats as significant contributors to heart disease." - UPI

Polyunsaturated fats help the heart

Substituting polyunsaturated fats for the saturated variety may help reduce coronary artery disease, according to a meta-analysis of studies involving more than 340,000 people on two continents. Their findings, pooled from 11 American and European studies involving mature adults of both sexes, were published in the May issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers' advice was unequivocal: "To prevent coronary heart disease, saturated fatty acids should be reduced and replaced with polyunsaturated fatty acids among all middle-aged and older women and men." - Medpage Today

Alberta decides not to cut out the fat (Canada)

"The Ministry of Health in Alberta backtracked from a province-wide ban on use of trans fats under pressure from the food industry. Ron Liepert, Alberta's Minister of Health, announced on March 15, 2009 that the province would continue to allow eateries to, in effect, police themselves rather than instituting a government regulation. Since Health Canada, the national department responsible for health issues affecting the whole country, may well enact its own regulations, Alberta has decided to "wait and see" how things play out on the national stage. Trans fat is a name given commonly to a type of unsaturated fat that is known to play a significant role in heart disease and other illnesses. Trans fats not only increase the amount of so-called "bad" cholesterol in the blood stream, but they also decrease the amount of "good" cholesterol. In the past the human diet has included very little trans fats, exclusively from fats present in certain cuts of meat" - eCanadaNow

British Columbia government restricts trans fat

British Columbia will become the first province in Canada to restrict trans fat in foods prepared and served at restaurants, Mary Polak, the minister of Healthy Living and Sport announced Saturday. The province is hoping to squeeze out the majority of trans fat from restaurants, delis, bakeries, cafeterias, schools and health-care institutions by this fall - CBA

MidMichigan Health cuts out trans fats beginning March 1

"In a unified effort to help address the public health concern of obesity in Michigan, MidMichigan Health will go trans fat free effective March 1. As a result, trans fats will be eliminated from patient meals, cafeteria menus, catering services, vending machines and gift shop shelves at MidMichigan Medical Centers in Alma, Clare, Gladwin and Midland, as well as MidMichigan Stratford Village and Gladwin Pines. MidMichigan Health is a leader among other hospitals and health systems participating is the statewide elimination of trans fats within health care organizations. This movement was initiated by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, with their goal of removing all trans fats from hospitals by Jan. 1, 2010." - redOrbit

Trans fats now banned in Boston restaurants

From now on, Boston restaurants must serve dishes trans fat-free or face $1,000 fine