According to Jaimie Oliver, this type of food is killing the children of America. There are so many products on store shelves that contain Trans Fats, in cookies and chips, oh my. Normally, I read the ingredient label thoroughly, but I’m human. Sometimes I miss it.
This junky oil is cheaper than butter, which is why it’s so appealing for food manufacturers. It’s all about the bottom line. Well, if we’re not around to buy it, how can that be good for business?
And don’t be fooled by labels. Manufacturer’s are allowed to “round down” when there is 0.5 grams trans fat per serving as per the FDA guidelines for the “zero trans fat” designation. Now that consumer’s are hip to the Trans Fat phenomenon, manufacturers are apparently busy making up new names to try and hide this information, like Mono- and Di-Glycerides. Even the Girl Scouts are prepared to make you fat and unhealthy, yet their label states Zero grams of Trans Fat.
Feeling like a fool? So am I. But when you can’t trust food labels, what can you do? You have to scan the ingredient listing (not just the nutrition label) for terms like partially hydrogenated fats/oils or shortening. For now, I think that’s the best you can do.
I think “everything in moderation” is a good mantra to live by. It’s impossible to have complete control considering that you can’t know every last ingredient that restaurants use in their meals, but it still makes me angry. How do you feel?
