The FDA released its final decision to remove artificial trans fat from the US on the basis that trans fat produces health risks specifically linked to heart disease.
Companies will have three years to remove all artificial trans fat from their products.
Partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of trans fat, are no longer scientifically recognized as safe.
If the final decision is approved, partially hydrogenated oils will become food additives that can no longer be used. The FDA will allow food companies to petition the regulation and will only approve specific uses of hydrogenated oils, only under the circumstance that they have data proving the hydrogenated oils are not harmful.
“I don’t know how many lives will be saved, but probably in the thousands per year when all the companies are in compliance,” said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Beginning in 2006, companies were ordered to place trans fat information on the nutrition label of products and the FDA reports that trans fat consumption has fallen ever since.
Recently, companies such as Kellogg Co., Kraft Foods Inc. and ConAgra Foods Inc. have been phasing hydrogenated oils out of their products.
The main use of hydrogenated oils comes in baked goods. The hydrogenated oils help baked goods maintain flakiness, as well as allow frosting to be spreadable.
