Ban on trans fats??

[Guest guest]

At least this is starting to be discussed. A normal american takes

in 5 grams of trans fats!!!! And you get more than double that in a

kids' meal and Mcs! And some people are worried about a few

grams of fish oil???? -

Partially hydrogenated vegetable fat is a disease-promoting

artificial fat used primarily in fast food and other commercially

manufactured fried and baked foods.[1] The trans fats in this

synthetic ingredient inflame the arteries and accelerate heart

disease.[1]

The average per-capita intake of 5 g per day in the United States

increases the risk for heart disease by approximately 25%,[1] and a

kids meal at Mc's can have up to twice this amount of trans

fat.[2]

A wise society would eradicate this harmful ingredient from the food

supply by banning it.[2,3] Denmark banned these commercial fats in

2004 with no adverse effect on taste or price of affected food,

including fast food and even their famous Danish pastries.

Indeed, the technology to satisfactorily replace partially

hydrogenated fat with healthy alternatives currently exists.[4]

In the United States, elimination of partially hydrogenated fats

would be expected to reduce the heart disease rate by 10% to 20%.[1]

So why, after more than a decade of accumulating evidence against

trans fats,[1,5] has the United States failed to rapidly implement

this obvious public health measure? Ultimately, our food contains

these harmful unnatural fats because we, the public, have failed to

sufficiently demand their prompt removal. The medical leadership has

not been aggressive enough in advocating for the public, and the

political leadership has been too submissive to food industry calls

for gradual change.

Shamefully, we have thus far allowed the food industry to dictate

the pace of change and decide for us how to handle this enormous

public health concern, but this is foolish. Allowing the food

industry to decide trans fat policy is like allowing the cigarette

industry to decide smoking policy.

Our job as a responsible society is to advocate for our children and

ourselves by taking control of this public health problem.[6] We

must find the moral courage to do the right thing and demand a ban

on artificial trans fats without delay.

That's my opinion. I'm Dr. Dansinger, Clinical Nutrition &

Obesity Section Editor of MedGenMed.

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References

Mozaffrian D, Katan MB, Ascherio A, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. Trans

fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:1601-

1613. Abstract

Stender S, Dyerberg J, Astrup A. High levels of industrially

produced trans fat in popular fast foods. N Engl J Med.

2006;354:1650-1652. Abstract

Astrup A. The trans fatty acid story in Denmark. Atheroscler Suppl.

2006;7:43-46. Epub 2006 May 24.

Tarrago-Trani MT, KM, Lemar LE, Holden JM. New and existing

oils and fats used in products with reduced trans-fatty acid

content. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106:867-880. Abstract

Willett WC, Stamper MJ, Manson JE, et al. Intake of trans fatty

acids and risk of coronary heart disease among women. Lancet.

1993;341:581-585. Abstract

Center for Science in the public interest. TransFreeAmerica Campaign

Launched. May 18, 2004. Available at:

http://www.cspinet.org/new/200405181.html Accessed November 28, 2006.

Dansinger, MD, MS, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and

Metabolism, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts;

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of

Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Editor, Clinical Nutrition &

Obesity section, MedGenMed