The Skinny on Trans Fat

What's The Big Deal About These Fats?

Trans fats are created when vegetable oils and animal fats are hydrogenated, which hardens the molecules.

These hydrogenated fats are a major cause of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.

With all the hype about the harmful effects of trans fats, many food manufacturers are removing them from their products.


But, the absence of trans fats does NOT necessarily mean that a food is "good for you." Don't be fooled by "Trans Fat Free" claims on the packaging.

Foods like potato chips, crackers, cookies etc., need some sort of solid fat to sustain their shelf life and eliminate the need for refrigeration. So, trans fats, in many cases, have been replaced by saturated fats -- also harmful to your health if over consumed.

How Do You Know If A Food Has Too Much Fat?

Look at the "Nutrition Facts" label. The fats will be broken down into grams on the food nutrition label, specifying both saturated and trans fats. But the most important number is in the "% Daily Value" column. If a food is over 10% your daily value of fat, it is too fatty to eat on a regular basis.