True or False: Trans fats can “hide” in foods, even if the Nutrition Facts label lists “0 grams” of trans fats.
- True
- False
Answer: True
In their book, Heart 411, Drs. Gillinov and Nissen say:
Trans fats are the worst kind of fat, and are associated with increased triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL cholesterol, blood vessel dysfunction, and blood clotting. Although the FDA has mandated that all nutrition labels include trans fat content, the government agency left a giant loophole. Foods may be listed as “zero trans fats” if they contain less than 500 five hundred milligrams of trans fat per serving. Five hundred milligrams is not the same as zero. Even that small quantity might be bad for your heart health. Be vigilant. Check the ingredients when you buy backed or packaged snacks. If the ingredients include “partially hydrogenated vegetable oils” (another name for trans fats), choose a different product.
