Your Favorite Food Items Might Be Changing

Health Matters: FDA Says No More Trans Fat

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Trans fats are no longer recognized as safe and the FDA is giving companies three years to completely remove them from products.

The main concern of the FDA is partially hydrogenated oil. And its risks are much higher than its rewards.

When you fill up your cart at the grocery store, odds are several of your items contain trans fats.

“We’re kind of a family that eats a piece of meat with salads every evening for dinner so I don’t think we’re a huge processed eating family,” says Kimberly Pladson.

But it’s in everything from margarine sticks and nondairy creamers to ground beef and cake mixes. And its side effects are dangerous.

“They’re increasing our LDL which is our bad cholesterol and decreasing our HDL our good cholesterol, which ultimately increases your risk for heart disease,” says Essentia Dietitian Jenny Bednar.

Kimberly Pladson is the Executive Director of TNT Fitness. She works closely with kids every day and knows how prevalent childhood obesity is.

“We see a lot of childhood obesity with TNT Kid’s Fitness and we see a lot of challenges that that brings so personally I think it’s a step in the right direction,” Pladson says.

Hydrogenated oils are the FDA’s biggest concern. It’s formed when hydrogen is added to oils to make solid fats.

“The reason why they use it is because it prolongs the shelf life of those foods so they can stay good for a longer time,” Bednar says.

In three years, trans fats will be gone and that could lead to major changes in what we find on grocery store shelves.

“This will definitely increase their prices because they’ll have to change out that oil and use more,” says Bednar.

But experts say consumers are in desperate need of this change.

“I think it’s a great thing. I think it’s definitely going to decrease our risk for heart disease and cause people to eat healthier now,” she says.

Manufacturers have had to list trans fat on labels since 2006 so throughout the next three years, consumers are advised to check their items before they buy them.