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Health

Denmark cuts trans fats, but keeps tasty treats

The country provides a healthful example.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 18, 2006

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Two years ago, Denmark declared war on artery-clogging oils, making it illegal for any food to have more than 2 percent trans fats. Offenders now face hefty fines - or even prison terms.

The result? Today, hardly anyone notices the difference. The french fries are still crispy. The pastries are still scrumptious. And the fried chicken is still tasty.

Denmark's experience offers a hopeful example for places like Canada and New York, which are considering setting limits on the dangerous artery-clogging fats.

Trans-fatty acids are typically added as partially hydrogenated oils to processed foods such as cookies, margarine and fast food. They are cheaper to produce than healthier oils - such as canola, corn or olive oil - and give foods a longer shelf life. However, trans fats also lower good cholesterol while raising bad cholesterol.

Even eating a daily amount of less than 5 grams of trans fat - the amount in a piece of fried chicken and a side of french fries - has been linked with a 25 percent increased risk of heart disease.

It is too early to tell if removing trans fats from Denmark has improved the country's health.

Denmark is the only country to have sharply limited trans fats, passing a law in 2003 that came into effect in 2004, making it illegal for any food to contain more than 2 percent of trans fat.

"We wanted to protect people so that they would not even have to know what trans fat was," said Dr. Steen Stender, who lobbied for the anti-trans fat law.

[Last modified October 18, 2006, 05:45:34]