FDA to Ban Artery-Clogging Trans Fats

[donnay]

I think what miffs me is the mindset that comes with the govt doing this. They will see they got an inch so they will lobby for the mile.

That's what governments do best, unfortunately. We've seen this incremental tyranny go on and on.

 

[July]

Like South Park once said, they are doing the wrong thing for the right reason.

I don't see why they need to do it since it is being phased out naturally anyway..

But the point does stand that they were literally PROMOTING this stuff as a healthy alternative to butter for decades, up until almost a decade ago..

Yeah, this decision will be popular, but this really should be a lesson why it's so dangerous to have a big central agency control the food supply in the first place. When they make a mistake, it can take decades to fix, and cost many lives. This is what I try to explain to progressive friends about banning GMOs as well. What happens when the government gets it wrong? When a policy is entrenched, they are always slow to respond to the science, and rarely admit fault. That is not even getting into other arbitrary non health related reasons things can be banned. Sometimes an industry just wants to block competition, or sometimes the govt wants to punish a foriegn govt it doesn't approve of by blocking trade, etc.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

FDA officials say they have been working on trans fat issues for around 15 years — the first goal was to label them

An effort that was immediately compromised by corporate lobbyists. They made no destination between natural trans fats (OK) and artificial trans fats (not OK).

And don't doubt for a second that the laboratories of the corporatists are not already ahead of this. No need for artificial hydrogenated fat when you can have artificial interesterified fats (or whatever other new processes they come up with). Disposing of rancid oil by putting it in food is a hell of a cost saver and money maker.

 

[donnay]

It's good people will eat less trans fat. But remember this was a government created problem to begin with, for waging a war on natural animals fats, coconut oil, and Palm. That's what a lot of fast food chains and restaurants used to use until they were pressured into switching to vegetable oils.

Absolutely! If we had a truly free market we could just boycott those places who use these poisons on people. They would go out of business, or the market would force them to change their ways or go out of business.

Nevertheless, awareness is key. What the alphabet agencies have done is caused people to blindly believe/trust they are out for their best interest.

 

[bunklocoempire]

And this promotes, protects, and preserves my freedom from government in what way?

 

[Brian4Liberty]

It is horrible news. aren't these the same folks that were telling everybody to replace butter with transfats just a couple decades ago? If they can ban transfats, then they can ban butter or whatever else they deem unsafe. screw that.

It's good people will eat less trans fat. But remember this was a government created problem to begin with, for waging a war on natural animals fats, coconut oil, and Palm. That's what a lot of fast food chains and restaurants used to use until they were pressured into switching to vegetable oils.

There was certainly a concerted effort to push "all vegetable" trans-fats. Mainly initiated by vegetarians, later pushed by corporations trying to kill 3 birds with one stone: get rid of rancid oil, add a preservative to baked products, and market an "all-vegetable" product.

On the other hand, was there ever any law that banned butter or lard? Or was this just a confluence of science, marketing and special interest groups? (Which turned out to be a very unhealthy mistake).

 

[tod evans]

And this promotes, protects, and preserves my freedom from government in what way?

Um-hm.......Reprogramming van dispatched...

 

[Lucille]

I'm sure everyone is shocked, shocked, that there's fascism going on here.

As is typical of this sort of behavior, it’s going to have a bigger impact on your neighborhood family-run bakery than it will on big chains like Dunkin’ Donuts.
[...]
A big chain like them can manage the transition just fine. But back when California instituted a ban, some smaller bakeries reported they’d have to raise prices as the ban both increased production costs and also reduced shelf life of their goods.
[..]
It may end up being yet another barrier to entry for smaller restaurants and producers to compete against established chains.

Washington's war on small business continues apace.

 

[Root]

Over/under on a trans-fat black market?

Money making opportunity?

Personally, I only use coconut oils or grassfed butter when I can get it.

 

[Acala]

Yes they were and they should have to answer for that! They have hurt many people by promoting the use of synthetic trans-fats. When they finally do change something they never should have done to start with, at least that much should be seen as a step in the right direction. Anyone thinking this is terrible news doesn't know just how bad synthetic trans-fats are for you or how easily they can be replaced with other preservatives that aren't as bad for you.

MY ARTERIES!!!! I should be able to do with them exactly what I want, including clog them. Not your business. Not the FDA's business.

Anyone NOT thinking this is terrible news doesn't understand liberty.

 

[Zippyjuan]

The first use of trans fats in foods was in margarines- which were initially only available by prescription.

There can also be natural sources of trans fats- found in dairy and meat products.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402152140.htm

Natural Trans Fats Have Health Benefits, New Study Shows

Contrary to popular opinion, not all trans fats are bad for you.

University of Alberta researcher Flora Wang found that a diet with enriched levels of trans vaccenic acid (VA) -- a natural animal fat found in dairy and beef products -- can reduce risk factors associated with heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Results indicated this benefit was due in part to the ability of VA to reduce the production of chylomicrons -- particles of fat and cholesterol that form in the small intestine following a meal and are rapidly processed throughout the body. The role of chylomicrons is increasingly viewed as a critical missing link in the understanding of conditions arising from metabolic disorders.

"Our results provide further evidence of the important role of chylomicrons in contributing to risk factors associated with metabolic disorders," said Wang, a PhD candidate in the University of Alberta Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. "They also indicate a strong opportunity for using diets with enhanced VA to help reduce these risk factors."

The research involved two VA feeding trials -- one short-term (three weeks) and one long-term (16 weeks) -- using model rat species for obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

The results, presented recently at the International Symposium on Chylomicrons in Disease, included novel findings that VA may have direct effects on the intestine. In addition, they showed key metabolic risk factors were reduced. For example, in the long-term trial, total cholesterol was lowered by approximately 30 per cent, LDL cholesterol was lowered by 25 per cent and triglyceride levels were lowered by more than 50 per cent.

Because VA is the major natural trans fat in dairy and beef products, comprising more than 70 per cent of the proportion of natural trans fat content in those products, the findings support a growing body of evidence that indicates natural animal-based trans fat is different than harmful hydrogenated trans fat created through industrial processing, Wang noted.

"As the VA results illustrate, some natural trans fats are not harmful and may in fact be very good for you," she said.

 

[Zippyjuan]

http://chriskresser.com/can-some-trans-fats-be-healthy

Trans fats are one of the few food components that are widely accepted as being unhealthy, and for good reason. Industrial trans fats are created by pumping hydrogen molecules into liquid vegetable oil, changing the chemical structure and causing the oil to become a solid fat. Trans fats are generally considered to be especially harmful because they raise total cholesterol while lowering HDL cholesterol. However, as usual with conventional nutrition advice, there is far more danger to trans fats than simply the effect they have on cholesterol ratios. Mark Sisson has written a helpful explanation as to why trans fats are best to be avoided.

However, it may surprise you to learn that many of the foods recommended on a Paleo or whole foods diet contain trans fats as well. Dairy fat and meats from grass eating “ruminant” animals contain significant amounts of trans fatty acids, and grass-fed animals actually have higher levels of these trans fats than grain fed animals. (1) In fact, your grass-fed steak contains about 0.5g-1.4g of trans fat per ounce (28.3g) of total fat. (2)

Naturally occurring trans fats are formed when rumen bacteria in the stomachs of ruminant animals (cows, sheep, etc.) digest the grass the animal has eaten and form trans-rumenic and trans-vaccenic acid via biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fats in the grass. Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is a trans-rumenic acid that is found abundantly in grass-fed meat and dairy products, and to a lesser degree in grain-fed products. It is also produced in our bodies from the conversion of trans-vaccenic acid (VA) from those same animal products.

Industrial trans fats have slightly different chemical structures than those trans fats found in beef and butter (specifically, the location of the double bond). CLA also has contains both cis- and trans- bonds, whereas most industrial trans fats have only trans bonds. But these minor differences in structure lead to majorly different effects in the body, as has been shown in many clinical and epidemiological studies. (3) While industrial trans fats are shown to increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, and obesity, CLA and other trans fats found naturally in animal products are actually thought to decrease the risk of those diseases.

More at link.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

It is horrible news. aren't these the same folks that were telling everybody to replace butter with transfats just a couple decades ago? If they can ban transfats, then they can ban butter or whatever else they deem unsafe. screw that.

d00d, you just don't understand! People just aren't smart enough to figure out what they should eat! /sarc

 

[amy31416]

I'm not all that familiar with Southern cooking and wouldn't eat the shit, but it's my understanding that the trans-fatty fats make the best biscuits. Maybe we'll have some rebel outrage.

Oh, and the preppers should be peeved too--that stuff has about a 50-year shelf-life.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

I'm not all that familiar with Southern cooking and wouldn't eat the shit, but it's my understanding that the trans-fatty fats make the best biscuits. Maybe we'll have some rebel outrage.

Oh, and the preppers should be peeved too--that stuff has about a 50-year shelf-life.

It's about what you are used to. Some people love artificial sweeteners, and apparently can't taste the obvious difference between that and real sugar.

 

[hardrightedge]

ObamaCare...

 

[amy31416]

It's about what you are used to. Some people love artificial sweeteners, and apparently can't taste the obvious difference between that and real sugar.

Like I said, I don't really know, but maybe I should buy 50 cans of Crisco and get rich when I resell it.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

The Paleo preachers will be along to explain that it's really wheat that should be banned.

I'd probably by ok with them banning beets. They're nasty.

No particular reason to ban wheat. It's useful for the "bulking" phases of many strength training/body building routines. It's just something the average person ought to avoid if the goal is to lose or prevent gaining fat/adipose tissue.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I'm not all that familiar with Southern cooking and wouldn't eat the shit, but it's my understanding that the trans-fatty fats make the best biscuits. Maybe we'll have some rebel outrage.

Oh, and the preppers should be peeved too--that stuff has about a 50-year shelf-life.

My gandmama (R.I.P.) from Kentucky never used Crisco-just butter. (she was also rail thin her entire life)

 

[donnay]

I'm not all that familiar with Southern cooking and wouldn't eat the shit, but it's my understanding that the trans-fatty fats make the best biscuits. Maybe we'll have some rebel outrage.

Oh, and the preppers should be peeved too--that stuff has about a 50-year shelf-life.

Palm kernel shortening makes great biscuits and pie crusts and is far better for you than vegetable shortening which is usually loaded with GMO soy, canola and corn.