Is trans-fat-free better? Not when it's just another marketing claim

Men's Fitness, March, 2004 by Jeffrey S. Hampl

THINK CARBS ARE evil? Well, they're nothing compared to trans fats--a killer ingredient in processed foods like cakes and cookies. Studies have shown that eating lots of trans fat can increase risk of heart disease, diabetes, and maybe even stunt muscle growth and development.

That said, you'd think the FDA's recent decision to force companies to list the trans-fat content of their products would be a good thing, especially after the amount of public outcry it took to get the change passed.

But watch out! Just because the words "trans-fat-free" are slapped across that jumbo bag of batter fried Cheez Doodles doesn't make them good for you.

Just as fat-free foods can still be loaded with sugar, trans-fat-free foods can still be packed with calories and saturated fat.

Take Newman's Own organic popcorn. It's trans-fat-free. But Paul and his pals are popping their corn with something far worse: highly saturated palm oil. True, it has no trans fat, but it's a far, far cry from "health" food.

Another of the many guilty parties: potato-chip manufacturers. Ruffles, Lay's, and other potato chips are fried in oil and don't need trans fats to be light and fluffy. That's great for the chip companies--potato chips are naturally trans fat-free!--but at 160 calories per ounce, potato chips will never be good for you.

The bottom line: Ignore every trans fat-free claim of your favorite snackmakers. Instead, flip your snacks over and eye the nutrition label. Look at the product's total fat grams, and then see how that fat breaks down into good monos, less-healthy saturated fat, and the worst of the worst--trans fat. Then base your decision on that information, and that information alone.