Recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a preliminary determination that the major source of artificially produced trans fats called partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) are no longer "generally recognized as safe" which also stands for GRAS certified. If this preliminary determination is finalized, all PHOs will become food additives and will need approval by the FDA before they are used in any food.
But what are trans fats? Trans fats are an unhealthy fat that can lead to heart disease. It raises the levels of your bad cholesterol known as your LDL cholesterol. This is why it is recommended to consume as little as possible. There are two types of trans fats: naturally occurring trans fats which are found in animal and dairy products and artificially produced trans fats through hydrogenation. The trans fats found in some desserts, convenience foods, peanut butters, margarine and coffee creamer are produced when hydrogen atoms are added to liquid oils to make them solid fats. This results in an increased shelf life and adds flavor to foods.
Many food manufacturers have been taking steps to limit or eliminate trans fats from their products. For example, Culver's was one of the first restaurant to switch to trans fat free frying oil more than 6 years ago.
So what can you do until the final ruling is released? Read food labels and ingredient statements to see if the food you eat contains PHOs and look for substitute options that do not contain PHOs. For example, many peanut butters contain PHOs but natural peanut butter (the one where you have to mix in the oil) does not contain these PHOs.
US Dairy Industry Petitions the FDA to HIDE Aspartame from Consumers!
3-13-13
The Dairy Industry has recently filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking them to alter the standard identity of milk and 17 other milk products to secretly include chemical sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose. Every food item has a "standard identify", which is a list of specific ingredients that state what a food product must contain to be marketed under a certain name. This protects the consumer by ensuring that a label accurately reflects what the food item is composed of. For example, mayonnaise and peanut butter have specific standard identities which is why Miracle Whip cannot be called mayonnaise since it does not meet the standard identity for mayonnaise.If this petition is approved by the FDA to change the standard of identity for milk, milk and milk products including yogurt, cream, sour cream, eggnog, whipping cream and cream cheese could all contain aspartame and sucralose without it being on the label. If you are trying to avoid aspartame or sucralose you will have no way of knowing which products contain these items and in what quantities because it will not be listed on the label.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMFP) claim the sweeteners will reduce the calories in milk, stating this will help consumers and reduce weight gain from drinking milk. The FDA is requesting comments on this petition and you have until May 21st, 2013 to submit your comments. Use this link to submit a statement to the FDA and tell them how you feel about changing the standard identity of milk and milk products.
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The USDA Proposes New Rules to Regulate the Nutritional Context of School Snacks
March 4, 2013
The USDA has proposed new rules that would regulate the nutritional content of snacks, beverages, and meals sold to students during the school day. The proposed rule (7CFR Part 210 and 220) requires schools to improve the nutritional quality of foods offered to students outside the Federal School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The new standards apply to foods sold a la carte, in school stores, snack bars, and vending machines. Upon implementation, students will be offered new food choices that must meet standard for calories, fat, sodium, saturated fat, sugar, whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables. "These proposed changes are intended to improve the health and well-being of the Nation's children, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits," (Department of Agriculture).
If you are interested to read the proposed rule, check out this link: www.fns.usda.gov/cga/020113-snacks.pdf
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The Mediteranean Diet -- Can it Help Prevent Heart Disease?
There is a great deal of evidence linking a heart healthy diet with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent research from New England Journal of Medicine revealed that the heart healthy effects of following a Mediterranean diet are similar to the effect of taking statins (cholesterol lowering drugs that can reduce LDL cholesterol by 35-30%). The benefits of adding 1 oz of nuts per day and heart healthy unsaturated fats like canola oil and olive oil are simple tricks to improve your overall diet and help protect against heart disease. It is important to remember that nuts and oils are high in calories and fat and need to be replaced "isocalorically" to prevent weight gain. This means replacing calories in your diet with nuts and heart healthy oils so the overall calories remains the same. Check out examples of these foods and the recommended portion sizes:
1 oz walnuts (14 halves) 190 calories
1 oz peanuts (29 nuts) 160 calories
1 oz cashews (20 nuts) 162 calories
1 oz almonds (23 nuts) 165 calories
1 oz pecans (20 halves) 195 calories
1 tbsp Olive oil 120 calories
1 tbsp Canola oil 120 calories
If you are interested to learn more and would like to read the published study, check out this link.
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Lots of chatter, anger over Stanford organic food study
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