Your trans fats answers

Many of you have contacted us with questions about artificial trans fats, so we'll try to get to the bottom of some of your most common concerns.

First, a refresher: Artificial trans fats are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil to make it stable. Companies began using them to give certain foods a desirable taste, shape and texture (think flaky pie crust or perfect French fries). At home, you can find artificial trans fats in many crackers, cookies and frostings. Just look for words like "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" in the ingredients label.

Health and nutrition groups including the American Heart Association say artificial trans fats can clog arteries and raise the body's level of LDL or "bad" cholesterol, setting the stage for heart disease and stroke. Thus, health departments across the country are pushing food companies and eateries to label trans fats or eliminate them from recipes as part of a larger effort to help consumers be better informed about what we're eating.

Q: If my cereal/cookies/frosting claims to be trans-fat free, how come there are still hydrogenated items on the ingredients list?

A: Since last year, the Food and Drug Administration has required most packaged foods to list trans-fat content in their ingredients list. Some products that say they are trans-fat free still list hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils as ingredients, which is allowed under FDA guidelines so long as the amount is less than 0.5g of trans fat per serving.

Q: Is there a list of Seattle restaurants that have eliminated trans fats?

A: At this point, the Department of Health — Seattle & King County has no official list. Many restaurants have jumped on the bandwagon, however. If curious, call the restaurant or ask your server.

Q: What's this I hear about trans-fat alternatives that also could be harmful for my health?

A: Some restaurants searching for alternatives to artificial trans fats have turned to oils high in saturated fats, including palm and coconut oils. As any nutritionist will tell you, just because something is trans-fat free doesn't necessarily mean it's healthful.