- Vegetable or animal fat is converted into partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated fat through a chemical process.
- Trans fats may also form during this process.
- Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats are used in certain foods.
- For the food industry, they represent a cheaper and more reliable alternative.
- Denmark is the first country in the world to impose a maximum limit on trans fats in food.
Trans fat
Available in 2 styles
- Naturally occurring
Formed naturally in the stomachs of ruminants and found in small amounts (2–5%) in milk fat and body fat in cows, sheep, and goats. - Industrially produced
When vegetable and animal oils are hydrogenated in industrial processes, trans fats are also formed artificially
- Words you should look for on nutrition labels are:
- Hydrogenated fat
- Partially hydrogenated fat
- Partially hydrogenated vegetable fat
Unhealthy fats
Products you should especially avoid are:
- Solid and liquid butter containing partially hydrogenated fat
- Ready-to-eat foods such as pastries, crackers, soups, and sauces
- Bouillon cubes and powder