In the United States, the war against trans fats started about a decade ago, when the Food and Drug Administration made companies list how much of the fat they were using in their products was trans-isomer fatty acids. From there, individual states, like California and New York, started banning the artificial fat.
Now, it looks like trans fats are close to becoming no more. Yesterday, the FDA officially put food companies on notice when they announced that they would ban the fat in the country.
This is a good move: the FDA said getting rid of trans fats could prevent 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths a year.
Wait, so what is trans fat? The artificial fats are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil, making a solid substance. (FYI: If you look on the back of a food box, you won’t see the phrase trans fat, you’ll see partially hydrogenated oils).
Since the FDA first revealed the harm of trans fats, big boy companies like McDonalds and Subway have phased out the oil when cooking. However, smaller restaurants are still known to use it in places that it’s legal.
And it can also still be found in your favorite processed food in supermarkets. Which brings us to this post. Many of our guilty pleasures have trans fat, and we’re not even aware of it.
So here’s 12 notable foods that will most likely change when trans fats are eventually banned.
Land O’Lakes Margarine
Coffee Mate Creamer
Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches
Apple Jacks Cereal
Chex Mix
Celeste Pizza
UPDATE 11/9/13 8:00PM EST:
We have actually been pleasantly informed that Pinnacle Foods reformulated its entire line of Celeste Pizza for One, eliminating added trans fats and partially-hydrogenated oils in 2012.
Sorry about the screw up, Celeste!
Hostess Drake Pies
Pillsbury Grands Cinnabon
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
Orville Redenbacher’s Instant Popcorn
Nilla Wafers
Betty Crocker Frosting