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Trans Fats

To the Editor:

At a recent meeting of the board of directors of the Newtown Visiting Nurse Association, the board unanimously supported a resolution urging residents, for their health’s sake, to eliminate the use and/or ingestion of trans fats in their diets, immediately if possible.

The VNA board research has revealed that trans fats, or partially hydrogenated oils, have been known to cause thousands of deaths every year and scientific research confirms that trans fats raise the levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) and lower the levels of HDL (the good cholesterol) and the Harvard School of Public Health has indicated that trans fats are far more harmful than just adversely affecting cholesterol levels.

In fact, in an effort to protect people, the Food and Drug Administration is now requiring food companies to list the trans fats on their nutritional labels, and they have announced, gram for gram, trans fats are far more harmful than saturated fats in meat and dairy foods.

The VNA research also finds that companies such as Frito-Lay, Kraft, and ConnAga are dumping trans fats and trying to use healthier oils, especially in fried foods; whereas, unfortunately, Pillsbury, General Mills, Marie Callenders, and others have not broken their bad trans fat habits. Some major restaurant chains such as Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday, Wendy’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Arby’s have largely eliminated trans fats or plan to do so soon, such as McDonald’s. Health Departments in some of our larger cities such as New York and Philadelphia are banning almost all trans fats from restaurants.

The Newtown VNA urges all local residents to ban trans fats from their diets and used healthy substitutes such as canola, high-oleic canola, sunflower, and low-linolenic soy bean oil as well as other healthy vegetable oils. It is also very important to read nutrition label on foods carefully. We also urge local restaurants to post notices on their menus or menu boards to inform their customers about the amount of trans fats in the food they serve.

Becky Smith, VNA President

for the Newtown VNA Board of Directors

31 High Rock Road, Sandy Hook                                      June 6, 2007