 |
|
|
| |
Appearing on product labels between now and January 2006
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
By January 2006, food manufacturers must list trans fat along with saturated fat and cholesterol on all Nutrition
Facts and some Supplement Facts food labels.1 As manufacturers begin to comply with the new label
regulation, you will find the new listing for trans fat directly beneath the listing for saturated fat.
Awareness of Trans Fat Can Help Patients Eat Healthier
Significant intake of dietary trans fat can raise serum LDL cholesterol levels, and decrease serum HDL levels,
increasing a patients' risk for coronary heart disease.1 By listing trans fat, patients can use the new food
label to make heart-healthy food choices. When helping your patients plan healthy meals, suggest they avoid processed
foods that are often high in trans fat, such as:
|
|
|
 |
|
Vegetable shortening |
|
|
|
Candy |
|
|
|
Some margarines |
|
|
|
Snack foods |
|
|
|
Crackers |
|
|
|
Fried foods |
|
|
|
Cookies |
|
|
|
Baked foods |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How Much is Too Much Trans Fat?
The American Heart Association recommends that people limit their daily intake of trans fat, saturated fat and
cholesterol.2 When looking at the new food label, patients should be encouraged to choose healthy foods that
have the lowest combined sum of trans fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.1,2 Emphasizing the importance of portion
sizes to your patients using the new food labels could prove very helpful, since many individuals do not account
for the changes in the nutrient quantities they consume when exceeding the standardized portion sizes provided on
the food label.
BENECOLŪ Spreads Contain 0 grams Trans Fat.
The BENECOLŪ Spread labels carry a clear message: "No Trans Fatty Acids", making BENECOLŪ Spreads
healthy choices for patients who want to manage their cholesterol levels through diet.
References:
1US Food and Drug Administration. Trans Fat Now Listed With Saturated Fat and Cholesterol on the Nutrition Facts Label. CFSAN/Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements. January 16, 2004; Updated March 3, 2004. Available at:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transfat.html. Accessed March 5, 2005.
2American Heart Association. Dietary Guidelines. Available at:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1330. Accessed March 5, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|