Trans Fatty Acids 101 - what and where?
written by Gloria Tsang, RD
last updated: December 2005
Trans fatty acids are found in numerous foods - commercially packaged goods such as cookies and crackers, commercially fried food such as French Fries from some fast food chains, other packaged snacks such as microwaved popcorn as well as in vegetable shortening and some margarine. Indeed, any packaged goods that contains "partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils" or "shortening" most likely contain trans fats.
Before the invention of trans fatty acids, we cooked food with lard, palm oil or butter etc which are high in saturated fats. Researchers found that saturated fats increase LDL cholesterol (the
Bad cholesterol) which may increase the risk of heart disease.
Therefore, manufacturers started to use the healthier vegetable oils in their food production. As liquid vegetable oils are not stable to heat and can go rancid easily, scientists began to "hydrogenate" liquid oils so that they can withstand better in food production process and provide a better shelf life. As a result of hydrogenation, trans fatty acids are formed.
Similar to saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids also increase LDL cholesterol (the
Bad cholesterol) and lower HDL cholesterol (the
Good cholesterol) therefore increasing the risk of heart disease. Some studies also showed that a diet high in trans fatty acids may be linked to a greater risk of Type 2 Diabetes.