Post: Trans Fat -- Missing the Bigger Picture?
Trans Fat -- Missing the Bigger Picture?
Lately, the food news has been filled with stories of corporate hand wringing over how to replace trans fat -- that evil, artery-clogging substance not known to nature, cooked up by “food scientists” (is that an oxymoron?) to extend shelf-life of products that are better left on the store shelves anyway.
That’s why when a reporter called me from the San Diego Union-Tribune last week to ask me what did I think of Starbucks’ big announcement to remove the offending fat from its baked goods, I told her that I was unimpressed:
- “I have questions around this whole obsession with trans fats because it’s not looking at the whole nutritional picture,” she said. “Starbucks eliminates trans fats, and people think it’s healthy and it’s not.” Even with the changes, the pastries will have the same amount of calories and fat as before, Simon said. Plus, the trans-fat ban will do nothing to cut the calories in Starbucks drinks. “Great, so there’s no trans fat in their muffins, but what about the 600-calorie frappuccino?” she asked.
While I do think it’s important for New York to have taken action to ban trans fat, I think we also need to remember that fried chicken (or pastries, or all of the other junk foods that use trans fat) is unhealthy no matter what it’s fried in.
Also, what we replace trans fat with may cause other problems down the road. For example, one alternative is palm oil, which is full of saturated fat and is partly what caused concern decades ago, leading to trans fat. So now we are coming full circle, because we continue to focus on ingredients instead of the entire food. Meanwhile, those creative food scientists are now creating new, genetically-engineered oils. What health problems will that cause?
Lets get rid of trans fat, but let’s be sure to not stop there. Let’s also address the bigger problem of highly processed foods and the industialization of the food supply.
This entry originally appeared on Michele Simon's blog, Appetite for Profit.
There are 1 replies to this post
Date: January 22, 2007
I do not want govt raising my children. I do not want my neighbors telling me what my children can and cannot eat (unless I am feeding them arscenic!). Educate the public on dangers and then BACK OFF. Parents who mistreat their kids, abuse them and/or kill them should be prosecuted. Parents who know the minimal risks and CHOOSE to feed their kids some foods cooked in trans fat (or any other type of fat) should be left alone. What's the deal with NY and California? Soon they'll be part of the ozone layer since they are really entering outerspace with their love for govt legislation and intervention. Anyone with half a brain knows that junk foods (etc) are not healthy choices, but SO BE IT! It's their CHOICE for themselves and their children.