FDA loophole on trans fat labeling dupes consumers

Thursday, June 4, 2015

In 2007, trans fat was banned from restaurant menus because the chemically altered vegetable oil was shown to be harmful for heart health. That started a trend with many companies reformulating their products, but trans fat can still be found everywhere from store shelves to restaurants.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- From salt to high fructose corn syrup, many ingredients have been under scrutiny by health experts, but one that remains front and center is trans fat.

"It was developed as margarine and as shortening, and it was the wonder food and it held everything together beautifully, worked wonderful in cooking and baking," said Patricia Greenberg, who runs the Fitness Gourmet.

But Greenberg says the end result wasn't so sweet.

"More and more researchers have found that trans fatty acids actually alter the chemical structure of the lining of the cell, which ultimately could lead to more heart disease and more buildup of plaque in the arteries," Greenberg said.

Yet this fat still remains in many foods: baked and snack goods, oil, cereal, microwave popcorn, non-dairy creamers, pudding and fruit snacks to name a few.

Sometimes it's listed as partially hydrogenated oil, but dietitian Dawn Undurraga of the Environmental Working Group says it's there in another form.

"Refined oils are also a source, emulsifiers may be another source and even flavors and colors," Undurraga said.

And a label loop hole remains. The Food and Drug Administration allows a product to be labeled trans-fat-free if it contains half a gram or less per serving.

"Half a gram doesn't sound like a lot but it can add up quickly, especially for kids," Undurraga said.

"On the serving it may say it's trans free because it's a very minute amount of trans fatty acid, but the truth is most people eat more than the recommendation on the package," Greenberg said.

"The Institute of Medicine is clear -- there is no safe level of trans fat," Undurraga said.

The watch dog organization, Environmental Working Group, created a Food Scores website to help clear up confusion.

They've analyzed over 84,000 foods and offer detailed information from food manufacturers to allow consumers to check for all kinds of things like trans fat.

The FDA is expected to make a formal announcement banning these artificial fats from the food industry. That announcement could come as early as June 15.