News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Replacing butter with vegetable oils does not cut heart disease risk (2016). Parent comment

Re:Replacing butter with vegetable oils does not cut heart d... by clarry on Monday February 13, 2017 @10:29AM (#13635940)
I just checked what the Finnish wikipedia has to say about trans fats last night, and it makes the claim that margarine's trans fat content is <= 0.5% while vegetable oils contain none of it, and butter contains 2%. All numbers are low enough that the trans-fat content isn't a concern, but butter is comparatively worse. Apparently studies show similar numbers in Sweden.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Replacing butter with vegetable oils does not cut heart d... by maxerickson on Monday February 13, 2017 @11:32AM (#13636519)
Historically many margarines were made using partially hydrogenated oils. That was discontinued in recent decades.

Partially hydrogenated oils were also popular for deep frying (they last longer).

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Replacing butter with vegetable oils does not cut heart d... by justin66 on Monday February 13, 2017 @11:44AM (#13636612)
Partially hydrogenated oils are shelf-stable, so they're used in a lot of individually-wrapped junk food items. That kind of stuff should be left out of just about any diet.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Replacing butter with vegetable oils does not cut heart d... by maxerickson on Monday February 13, 2017 @11:51AM (#13636666)
It used to be the case. It isn't any longer.

It's one of the reasons that packaging got more annoying in recent years.

In addition to consumer preferences, the FDA called for a phase out in 2015: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm372915.ht...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Replacing butter with vegetable oils does not cut heart d... by justin66 on Monday February 13, 2017 @09:18PM (#13640662)
If you're saying the phase-out is really happening and widespread, that's great. Nothing could make me happier. Partially hydrogenated oils are basically poison. I've noticed them falling off the ingredients list of some of the junk in the store.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Replacing butter with vegetable oils does not cut heart d... by maxerickson on Monday February 13, 2017 @10:06PM (#13640846)
Yes, it's real.

For example:

https://www.generalmills.com/Health/improving-health/reducin...

The consumer preference things is real too. Here's Kraft working to avoid "trans fats" on their labels in 2005:

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Suppliers2/Kraft-slashes-tr...

[ Parent | on HN ]