History: What we knew then…

What is a Trans Fat?

Where are they found?

TRANS FAT

History: Pre 1990

Paul Sabatierdiscovers

hydrogenation

1890

Wilhelm Normann

Liquid fats to solid fats

Crisco: First hydrogenated

product to American tables

1902 1911

History: Early 1900’s

Hydrogenation

Saturated Fat

Partial

Hydrogenatio

n

Hydrogenatio

n

Unsaturated

Fat

TransUnsaturated

Fat

Cis

Claimed Benefits of Trans Fats

• Increased shelf life

• Decreased refrigeration

• Less saturated fat than butter

• Less expensive than butter

or lard

History: Pre 1990

World War II begins…

Use of margarine rises sharply

1937

A.H.A proposes reducing saturated

fat intake to reduce heart

disease

Consumer advocacy groups campaign to replace saturated fat

with preservative (BHT/BHA) free

alternative

1957 1984

TransFat

History:Post 1990• Research began to show detrimental

effects of trans fats– “On a per calorie basis, trans fats appearto increase the risk of Coronary Heart disease more than any other macronutrient”– Cardiac deaths attributed to consumption

of trans fats

History: Post 1990

• 1993: Advocacy groups call for fast food restaurants to stop using partially hydrogenated oils in deep fryers

• 1999: U.S. government proposes law requiring food manufacturers to list trans fats on labels

SOURCES

CookiesCrackersChips and other commercial baked goodsFrench friesFried onion ringsDonuts and other commercial fried foodsStick margarine“Instant foods”: Just add water

Vegetable ShorteningChocolate candyRegular microwave popcornSoup in cups and Ramen noodles

Small amounts of trans fats occur in nature in meats and dairy products.

TRANS FATRaises blood cholesterol levels.

Found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Where Is it Coming From?