French fries contain more trans fats than previously believed: McDonald's
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Thu, 09 Feb 2006 13:38:00 GMT |
| Author
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Nigel Wright |
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Nobody ever said that French fries were good for health. But the bad news just got worse. On Wednesday, fast food chain McDonald's admitted that its fries have one third more trans fats, which are responsible for increased blood cholesterol levels and hence, cardiac disease risk, than previously believed.
A new test adopted by the food giant revealed that the amount of trans fats in the fries was 8 grams and not 6 grams and total fat 30 grams and not 25 as measured earlier. In addition, the total calories for a large portion of French fries have gone up to 570 calories from 520 calories.
“As part of our ongoing voluntary efforts to provide our customers with the best science-based information, we continually enhance our testing,” said Cathy Kapica, global nutrition director of McDonald's. She added that through the new nutritional information on the packages, consumers could pick and choose what is best for them.
“It is important to note that McDonald's menu has a wide range of choice and variety, with an array of portion sizes, including three options with French fries – small, medium and large. Using these portion size options, along with our nutrition information, customers can continue to make informed decisions,” Kapica added. The nutritional information on the company's Web site has already been updated.
Trans fats are produced when hydrogen is passed through vegetable oils to increase the shelf life of food products. Most processed foods contain trans fats in varying degrees. Earlier studies have shown that a diet high in trans fats can lead to heart diseases and clogged arteries. In wake of the studies, the US National Academy of Sciences, in 2002, recommended that the intake of trans fats should be kept to a bare minimum.
Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest termed French fries a 'disastrous product'. Calling the increase in trans fats in the potato products a 'dramatic increase', he said, “This certainly raises questions about their testing or about the vaunted uniformity of their products worldwide. Two grams of trans fat is quite a big difference. McDonald's (should) fry in canola oil or other liquid oil.”
According to American Dietetic Association spokesperson Dawn Jackson-Blatner, six grams trans fats was too much to consume. “When it comes to being 6 gram, or 8 gram, it's still a considerable amount more than what we would want in someone's typical day,” she said.
However, McDonald's hasn't made much progress in completely eliminating trans fats from its French fries, said Mitch Smith, director of quality systems at McDonald's. “We're working on trans fat oils, we are looking at all the options to find the right answer,” he said.
Many countries have been trying to eliminate such fats in their products. In May 2005, Tiburon in California became the first city in the world where trans fat-free oils were used in all the eateries. Several restaurant chains in the United States have also altered their cooking ingredients to minimize trans fats. Denmark took a step further in this direction by passing laws that banned partially hydrogenated oils.
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Choices
By:
Elisha ,
Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:27:36 GMT
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They can provide us the information as the Federal government tells us to. But is the Federal Gov't going to go withus to the store and monitor what we buy and then what we put into our bodies, NO!!! We chose what we eat and how we exercies. I hate being larger than what I am and I decide what I eat, I am 5'10 and not over weight but I am not 170 pounds either, but I am healthy I don't eat the fries but I do eat the salad with the fat free dressing and so forth. I decide what I eat and the choices I make will benefit me in the long run. No on can decide what we eat but us and with this new bit of information we will stiil continue to ask the to super size ME!!!
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Polyunsaturated oils found in supermarkets are just as worse than trans fats.
By:
James Donahue ,
Fri, 10 Feb 2006 02:53:32 GMT
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Fokes, first of all, potatos are the worst food for you, even baked. They are nutrient poor, and the starches in the food plump down to your arteries. Don't eat potatos...Ever. New studies suggest that eating a raw potato uncooked is now just as bad as smoking cigarettes.
And secondly, the new studies suggest that we eliminate Saturated fats all together. Fokes, there are bad monounsaturated fats as well as bad saturated fats. But as good cholesteral, there are good saturated fats.
Don't use canola or cottenseed oil. These are unsaturated oils, but bad unsauturated oils. The only polyunsaturated oils that are allowed are fish and flax oil in the refrigerated section in health food stores. The only exception on the store shelves are extra virgin olive and grapeseed oils. Corn, soy, vegtable, and canola oils are allready rancid on the store shelves, and they are overly processed. Stay away from them.
And you think that saturated fats are the other artery cloggers? Think again. There are good saturated fats. Clean animal fats arn't as bad as we thought, but I would prefer cooking using organic extra virgin coconut oil. Butter and lard are the runner ups. Coconut oil is not only good for you, as they won't raise your cholestrol much, and it's good for your pancreas and your liver, but they are tough when it comes to heat and light. So, this is THE oil to use when baking. The BAD saturated fats, on the other hand, or the fully-hydronated oils. So, Just because some saturated fats are good for you, it does NOT mean that you can pig out on the sausage and the bacon and the fries and the fatty burgers. I mean clean free-ranged butter and lard, as well as coconut oils. Saturated fats naturally found in plant foods, like coconuts, won't cause any health concerned, as long as it's NOT been hydronated. They run tests on mice showing that coconut oil clogged the mices' arteries. Unfortunately, that test was tainted as that fat was hydronated before they put it in the mices' feed. No wander why it clogged the mices' arteries
Americans should eat a variety of fruits, vegtables, nuts, and a variety of grass-fed, free-ranged meats (Pultery, red meats (Bison is my pick), and even exotic meats). Choose the darker fruits and vegtables, as they contain more nutrients, and try some exotic ones as well. Eat 1 or 2 coconuts weekly, use coconut oil when cooking, and eat fish. Take a daily multivitamin, and take fish oil and vitamin E suppliments, and eat 1 ounce of organic dark chocolate daily. Go as organic as possible.
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