Better Food

Hi Everyone,

This week's Time magazine had an interesting article about trimming the fat. Back in the day, prior to the 1950's, food was made with real unadulterated natural ingredients. Real milk, butter, eggs, salt and sugar etc., etc. were the ingredients that were the basis for our food products. But, something happened in the 1950's that changed what we have eaten ever since.

The 1950's saw the introduction of trans fats into the production of everything from crackers to donuts to microwave popcorn to fast food burger and other fast food joints. Artificial trans fats is partially hydrogenated oils. According to the article, trans fats smooth texture, stabilize flavor and improve shelf life. It has been proven that trans fats are linked with heart disease, (clogged arteries). The center for disease control, CDC, states that 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 heart disease related deaths occur each year due to trans fats. And those numbers are sure to increase.

I am keenly aware that there are people in this country who believe that we should have less government interference in our lives. Maybe in some respects they are right. But when it comes to our food safety, I am a strong proponent of the government trying to protect our food. You can't count on big food conglomerates to put our safety ahead of their profits. So on 11/7/13, the FDA announced that it is starting the process of eliminating trans fats from the U.S. food supply. FYI, in 2006, NYC banned trans fats from restaurants. California followed in 2008 by doing the same thing.

The absence of trans fats from our foods will not happen overnight. Most likely, it will take years since food manufacturers who use it must reformulate their products. Maybe, just maybe, they will again use natural ingredients instead of finding a trans fats substitute. Time will tell.

I do believe that eventually eliminating trans fats from our food supply is a good thing and common sense over ruled big food businesses efforts to thwart it. Food is suppose to nourish our bodies and not hurt them.

Til next week.

Peter