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Q & A
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Q & A
Peanut Butter and Trans FatsQ: How can some brands of peanut butter claim “zero trans fats,” but still list hydrogenated oil in the ingredients list?A: With the new trans-fat nutrition-labeling rules, products labeled “0 trans fats” can still contain up to half a gram of trans fat per serving. You can assume that “trans-free” peanut butter still contains a small amount of trans fat if partially hydrogenated oil is listed as an ingredient. Trans fats help make peanut butter shelf-stable, smooth and creamy. But now that trans fats’ heart-damaging effects are widely known, many peanut butter manufacturers are replacing them with palm oil. While palm oil is trans-fat-free, about half of its fat is saturated, adding about 1.5 grams sat fat to each 2-tablespoon serving. Have we traded one “bad fat” for another? Could be. While you may have heard that palm oil has less of a cholesterol-raising effect than other tropical oils, the research isn’t conclusive. Your best bet is to choose natural peanut butters that contain neither added palm oil nor trans fats. ![]() —Sylvia Geiger, M.S., R.D. Recipes to try: Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken & Vegetables Spicy Peanut Sauce No-Bake Cookies |
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