Trans Fats (Partially Hydrogenated Oils)
Definition
Artificial fats created by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them solid at room temperature (hydrogenation). While the FDA banned artificial trans fats in 2018, trace amounts (< 0.5g per serving) can still be legally labeled as '0g trans fat.'
Why It Matters
Trans fats are the single most dangerous type of dietary fat. They simultaneously raise LDL ('bad') cholesterol and lower HDL ('good') cholesterol — the only type of fat that does both. The WHO estimates that industrial trans fats cause approximately 500,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease annually worldwide. Products listing 'partially hydrogenated' anything in the ingredients still contain trans fats despite the '0g' label claim.
Commonly Found In
Try These Tools
Related Terms
Seed Oils (Industrial Vegetable Oils)
AvoidA category of highly refined cooking oils extracted from the seeds of plants using industrial processes — typically involving chemical solvents (hexane), high heat, bleaching, and deodorizing. Includes soybean oil, canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, and grapeseed oil.
Palm Oil (Refined)
CautionAn edible vegetable oil derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis). It is the most widely produced vegetable oil in the world and appears in roughly 50% of all packaged products sold in supermarkets.