No surprise.
The Food Industry recently asked the FDA for exemptions on the eventual removal of Trans Fats, as stated in regulations they have until June 2018 to comply to. I guess they just can’t live without them.
Completely no surprise.
We bring this up today to again point out the important role your voice plays in the ongoing battle being waged by large food manufacturers on the people they make a great deal of money from – us. In the last few years it is clear that our health and wellness falls low on the list of considerations when a food product appears on the shelf. Higher on the list seems to be customer addiction, shelf life and cost. If our health truly was paramount, the food industry would not spend what they do to fight the regulations being put in place.
They do because using ingredients like partially hydrogenated vegetable oil allows that cracker you like to sit on the shelf longer than it could normally. It also contributes to the Salt-Sugar-Fat triumvirate so crucial to the reason why you can’t stop eating those favorite crackers. Better ingredients cost more and sales would suffer.
As we’ve mentioned here before, the other problem truly does connect to taste. Removing these ingredients often makes the product inedible. Several journalists proved this in a taste test a few years ago. They could barely eat popular products without the added fats and chemicals.
I guess Trans Fat makes the poison go down easier.
The petition from The Grocery Manufacturers Association asks the FDA to allow the continued use of Trans Fats in foods ranging from breakfast cereals to cooking shortening. Overall the petition requests that in many cases only small amounts, less than a gram per serving, be allowed. Although one could see this as a positive, it still means that these fats will remain in many products. With such a large body of evidence pointing to the harm in these substances, it seems clear that we are better off without them.
We wonder what could happen if instead of spending millions fighting these changes, the Food Industry spent the money on discovering alternatives less harmful to the general public. That makes for a healthier society, which in turn means having customers around for longer. Sure shelf life shortens, but in the end do you want to be eating something that has a 2 year shelf life? It feels like there is a better way.
For more information on this topic, check out this article from CBS News by clicking HERE.
In the meantime make your voice sound out loud and clear. (The period for public comment is now ended.)Â As always present clear arguments that are brief and to the point. A six page, single spaced rant usually results in your views not listened to.
Take good care and until next time – To Your Health.
Image courtesy © Can Stock Photo Inc. / akulamatiau
