Herbalist Dr MziziMkavu
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 3, 2009
- 42,872
- 34,363
Transfats are as bad as smoking, claim scientists, who along with consumer groups are demanding regulations for limiting its use in food items.
Though small amounts of transfats are naturally present in dairy foods and animal products, the most common source of artificial transfat is vanaspati, which has 40 per cent transfat.
Food manufacturers frequently use vanaspati oil because it can be preserved longer, gives food items such as tikki s a solid shape and texture, and is a cheap substitute for ghee.
Transfats are also associated with risk of diabetes, infertility and certain types of cancers.
However, most restaurants are not willing to disclose the kind of cooking medium they use.
In an ongoing research being carried out by the foundation, out of 25 known restaurants, including a few multinational ones, 21 did not disclose information on the type of oil being used for cooking and frying, while five claimed to be using refined oil.
The study also found out that among 150 educated women, only 28 per cent actually know about transfats.
Thirty eight per cent women believe transfats do not cause any harm while only 12 per cent were fully aware of their adverse effects.
Examples of western food rich in transfats are patty, cake, pastry, cookies, pizza and rusks.
A committee led by the National Institute of Nutrition, an organisation under the Indian Council of Medical Research, has come out with recommendations to regulate the amount of transfats in oil.
The recommendations have been submitted to the Food Safety and Standard Organisation. The N- DOC has also come out with similar recommendations.
The organisation is also demanding that the amount of transfats should not exceed five per cent in soft spreadable margarine or bakery fats and wants transfats to be eliminated from our diet within a period of two years.
Many more people will benefit from lower cholesterol and blood pressure, he added.
Read more at Funzug.com | Hidden Killer in Your Junk Food | Transfats, Oil, Cent, Per, Food