U.S. FDA bans Trans fats in Processed Foods

It’s taken a while, and hopefully not too late, for medical research to catch up with nutritional and naturopathic scientific knowledge, to acknowledge that a major health issue is the excessive consumption of trans fatty acids.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that partially hydrogenated oils, the primary source of trans fats in processed foods, should not be used in food unless authorised by regulation.

“…….artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not ’generally recognised as safe’ for use in food”.

Trans fats have been shown to cause heart disease and diabetes and contribute to obesity and other chronic degenerative conditions. They are used by processed food manufacturers to stabilise shelf life and the hydrogenated oils are in solid form and so want leak out of packaging. They are often referred to as plasticised fats. Some examples include: fast food hamburgers, microwave popcorn, some frozen desserts, baking mixes, cake frostings and of course marjarines.

The processed food industry has been slowly poisoning its customers with not only hydrogenated oils but many other nasty chemicals including: sodium nitrate, MSG, aspartame, preservatives, artificial food colourings etc.

It may take time for the health risks of these additives to be medically recognised let alone the stink that will be caused by processed food manufacturers. Hopefully, Australia will take steps to follow suit.

The lesson is, and always will be, eat fresh and from the source. Not from the box, can, bottle or drive thru.

Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 06:02PM