| Triggering
heart disease more than any other fat is trans fat, which can be found
in most fast foods. This makes eating out a potential hazard to the
heart. This is due to the fact that most fast food chain restaurants
fry their foods with a leading source of trans fat, otherwise known
as the artery clogging partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (PHO).
Most Americans' trans fat intake stems from PHO. At one time, trans
fat was considered to be safer than saturated fat, however that
theory quickly changed as it proved to negatively affect blood cholesterol
levels. Some of the dangerous consequences related to trans fat
is that it not only raises bad cholesterol, LDL, but it lowers good
cholesterol, HDL. For these reasons, trans fat can be held accountable
for the tens of thousands of deaths last year caused by heart attacks.
Fast food giant, McDonald's, promised to eliminate their use of
PHO by creating a cooking oil with less trans fat. They claimed
it was one step closer to cutting trans fat altogether.
McDonald's lovers have yet to see that promise fulfilled.
Although McDonald's in Denmark have switched to healthier cooking
oil, McDonald's in the United States have retracted from any such
actions. In fact, McDonald's is being sued in California for misleading
the public by not following through with their proposed actions.
Members of the Center of Science and Public Interest group described
McDonald's continual use of trans fat as "reckless and irresponsible."
Dietary guidelines state that only 1 percent of a person's daily
calorie intake should come from trans fat. One small order of McDonald's
French fries contains enough trans fat to fill a day and a half's
worth.
In addition to McDonald's, fast food chains
using PHO include:
- Burger King
- Wendy's
- Applebee's
- Krispy Kreme
It is not illegal for the restaurants to use PHO, however, new
labeling rules are pushing manufacturers of processed foods in the
direction of switching to less harmful oils. Those fighting against
the use of PHO hope to gain some ground by asking the FDA to require
restaurants using PHO to make it known by printing it in their menus
or on their signs.
Trans fat can be found naturally in meat and dairy products.
Center
for Science in the Public Interest September 24, 2004
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