The Food and Drug Administration announced today they ordered food manufacturers to stop using trans fats (or partially hydrogenated oils) in their food products within 3 years.
I remember growing up and learning in school that trans fats were bad, yet they were commonly found in many of the foods that we ate. I also distinctly recall a family member telling me “Everything in moderation, Erin” but I knew that these couldn’t be good.. Even in moderation. The experts now tell us they are harmful even in small amounts.
FDA Banning Trans Fats
From the article on banning trans fats from our food:
The FDA on Tuesday ruled that trans fat is not “generally recognized as safe” for use in human food.
The department gave food manufacturers three years to remove the partially hydrogenated oils, or PHOs, from their products. The companies can petition the FDA for a special permit to use it, but no PHOs can be added to human food unless otherwise approved by the FDA.
Eating a diet rich in trans fat is linked to higher body weight, heart disease and memory loss. It has been shown to raise the “bad,” or LDL, cholesterol in the blood, which can lead to cardiovascular disease — theleading cause of death in the United States.
“The FDA’s action on this major source of artificial trans fat demonstrates the agency’s commitment to the heart health of all Americans,” said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, the agency’s acting commissioner, in a news release. “This action is expected to reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year.”
The Trans Fats Wake-up Call
We hope this will be a wake-up call for people to realize they aren’t healthy. I do find it ironic that these are being downright banned, yet GMOs (genetically modified organisms) still aren’t labeled in the United States. All we can do is hope is that this changes in the not so distance future for the sake of our children and grandchildren and all future generations.
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