FDA Gives Food Industry 3 Years to Dump Trans Fats

The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on trans fats, saying they must be removed from the food supply with three years. 
   
Despite being directly linked to heart disease and other health hazards, trans fats, also known as hydrogenated oils, are in thousands of processed foods.
    
The FDA says food manufacturers have until June of 2018 to get trans fats out of their products.  This includes not only products on grocery store shelves, but also in restaurants.
    
However, the FDA says food companies may obtain a waiver to this new rule if they can prove the trans fats are not harmful.
    
The Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents a large number of processed food companies, plans to petition the FDA to allow the use of small amounts of trans fats in their products.    
    
Trans fats are typically made by infusing hydrogen into vegetable oil, creating a product that improves the texture and shelf life of manufactured foods.

Trans fats are frequently in baked products, such as crackers, cookies and pastries as well as in fast foods, shortening and margarines. 
    
Trans fats are often found in foods that are labeled "trans fat free." That's because of an FDA loophole that states a manufacturer can declare a product is "trans fat free" if it has less than a half a gram of trans fat per serving, regardless of how small the serving is.  Manufacturers determine the serving size of their products.
   
In order to accurately discern whether a product contains a trans fat, look at the list of ingredients.  Trans fats are listed as "hydrogenated" oils.