Cutting out trans fats may cut down heart disease deaths by a quarter

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 27 Jun 2004 - 11:00 PDT

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Just moderately reducing consumption of 'trans fats' found in hydrogenated fats may cut coronary heart disease by a quarter, according to a leading expert, a Health Which? investigation reveals. However, many food retailers are failing to help address the problem.

Health Which? is a UK Consumer's Association Watchdog.

Hydrogenated fats/oils (found in countless ingredients lists for all kinds of foods)are formed by bubbling hydrogen through vegetable oil and are used to extend the shelf life of the oil. But in the process trans fats are created, which many experts, including the Food Standards Agency (FSA), now firmly link to coronary heart disease and believe could be even worse than saturated fats.

Hydrogenated fats and therefore trans fats are found in a range of food products, including those aimed at the 'healthy' market, such as Kellogg's Nutri-Grain morning bars. Linda McCartney vegetarian sausages and flame grilled burgers as well as a wide variety of biscuits, cakes, crackers, packet soups, pies and many takeaway fast foods also contain hydrogenated fats.

The Zutphen Elderly study led by Professor Daan Kromhout, published in the Lancet (Vol 357, March 10, 2001) tracked the health and diets of 667 men. The study team also combined their own results with other major studies. The study concluded that reducing consumption of trans fats by 2.4 per cent of total calorie intake can cut deaths from coronary heart disease by a quarter.

Despite strong evidence from many experts that hydrogenated fats are potentially harmful and moves by a few manufacturers of well-known brands to reduce the levels in their products, key supermarket retailers are failing to take the problem seriously enough. Health Which? contacted three leading supermarket chains to seek their views on their use of hydrogenated fats found in their own-brand products:

-- While stating that Safeway policy is to limit the use of hydrogenated fats where possible, Health Which? found that Safeway's own-brand custard creams, labelled 'Healthy Choice', contained hydrogenated fats. The company said that it had not found a suitable alternative. The supermarket did point out that hydrogenated oil is always listed in ingredients lists. However, it is not included in nutrition labelling and Safeway stated that its research shows consumers are more interested in other information.

-- Waitrose said that it is guided by government advice and may take steps to limit hydrogenated fats in its own-brand products, should government guidelines change or technology provide suitable alternatives. Waitrose include hydrogenated oil in ingredients lists.

-- Sainsbury's said that products in its 'health food selection' must not contain hydrogenated fats. However, they are used in some own-brand products and are always included in ingredients lists. Sainsbury's has no plans to review its policy as it told us there is no customer demand or government requirement.

Despite the Food Standards Agency being convinced of the dangers of trans fats it has failed to adequately warn the public, with its strong message hidden away on its website.

Sue Freeman, Acting Editor, Health Which? said:

"There is now strong evidence that trans fats are harmful and that cutting down on them, together with saturated fats, could help reduce your risk of heart disease. While it may be difficult to eat a diet totally free of trans fats, where possible consumers should try to replace hydrogenated fats with unsaturated fats and oils.

"Our research suggests that the food industry isn't taking the issue seriously enough. Labelling must be improved to provide consumers with more information about trans fats. But it is also important that the food industry makes greater efforts to reduce the levels found in foods, particularly as they have no known nutritional benefits whatsoever."

http://www.which.net/media/pr/oct03/health/transfats.html