January 6th, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
Earlier this week, I covered the new food labeling requirements on trans fats. Also effective Jan. 1 is a new law that requires labels to clearly state if food products contain any proteins derived from the eight major allergenic foods:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish
- Crustacean shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster)
- Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.)
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soybeans
The Food and Drug Administration enacted the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) because approximately 2% of adults and 5% of infants and young children suffer from food allergies—30,000 of which require emergency room treatment. About 150 Americans die each year from allergic reactions to food.
FALCPA requires food manufacturers to label products with the identified ingredients in one of two ways:
- Include the name of the food source in parentheses following its usual name. For example:
Ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), sugar, partially hydrogenated soybean oil and/or cottonseed oil, whey (milk), eggs, vanilla, salt, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), lecithin (soy), mono- and diglycerides (emulsifier).
- Place the word “Contains,” followed by the name of the food source from which the major food allergen is derived, immediately after or adjacent to the list of ingredients. The type size cannot be smaller than that used in the ingredients list. For example: Contains Wheat, Milk and Soy.
FALCPA does not require food manufacturers or retailers to remove or relabel products that were labeled before Jan. 1. Consumers with allergies must recognize there will be a transition period and continue to read package ingredient statements.
The new labeling law will be especially helpful to children who need to learn how to spot the presence of substances they must avoid. For example, if a product contains the milk-derived protein casein, the product’s label will have to use the term “milk” in addition to the term “casein” so those with milk allergies can clearly understand its presence.
Tags: allergies, allergins, food labels, Health, healthy living, ingredients, Organic Living
Posted in Organic, Organic Food | No Comments »
January 4th, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
Yesterday, I explained the Food and Drug Administration’s new labeling requirements on trans fats, which became effective Jan. 1. As you settle into your organic lifestyle routines during this first week of 2006—and assuming your New Year’s resolutions are not yet in need of resuscitation—here are some additional tips on reducing your consumption of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol to prevent heart disease.
Read the “Nutrition Facts” Panel on Grocery Items—Even the Organic Kind
Choose foods lower in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. For saturated fat and cholesterol, keep in mind when reading labels that 5% of the daily value (%DV) or less is low and 20% or more is high. (There is no %DV for trans fat.)
Choose Alternative Fats
Replace saturated and trans fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which don’t raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (“bad” cholesterol) and have health benefits when eaten in moderation. Sources of monounsaturated fats include olive and canola oils. Sources of polyunsaturated fats include soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and foods like nuts and fish. Avoid saturated fats like coconut and palm kernel oils.
Bond with Your Waiter
When dining out, don’t be afraid to ask which fats are being used in food preparation.
The FDA is conducting research to determine whether a footnote on Nutrition Facts panels, featuring dietary advice on saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol consumption, would be helpful to consumers as they monitor their diets.
Tags: fat, food labels, healthy eating, healthy foods, new years resolutions, trans fat
Posted in Organic, Organic Food | No Comments »
January 3rd, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
As of Jan. 1, food manufacturers are now required to list trans fat on nutrition labels. Consumption of saturated fat, trans fat and dietary cholesterol raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels—the “bad” cholesterol—and increases your risk of heart disease.
Saturated fat and dietary cholesterol have been listed on food labels since 1993. With trans fat added to the Nutrition Facts panel (see graphic), you’ll have help in making wiser food choices.
Trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil—a process known as hydrogenation, which increases a food’s shelf life and flavor stability. It’s found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, potato chips and snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils. Unlike other fats, most trans fat is formed when food manufacturers turn liquid oils into solid fats, such as shortening and hard margarine. A small amount of trans fat is found naturally—primarily in dairy products, some meat and other animal-based foods.
While saturated fat is the main dietary culprit in raising LDL, trans fat and dietary cholesterol contribute significantly. While unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are beneficial when consumed in moderation, saturated and trans fats are not.
Use the new nutrition labels to compare foods and select items with lower amounts of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. You will find trans fat listed on the Nutrition Facts panel directly under the line for saturated fat. Health experts recommend keeping your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet.
It may surprise you to learn that some dietary supplements contain trans fat from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, as well as saturated fat and cholesterol. If a supplement contains a reportable amount of trans or saturated fat (0.5 g or more), manufacturers are now required to list the amounts on the Supplement Facts panel.
Tags: food labels, health living, healthy, nutrition facts, trans fat
Posted in Organic, Organic Food | No Comments »
please Share the Love