Fast food fat varies by country
The trans fat content of McDonald's offerings vary by country and even by state, based on the type of oil that is used.
The difference is due to the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are high in trans fatty acids. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are often used to save money since they last longer than regular vegetable oils. They are used in many products including cookies and microwave popcorn, and are also used for frying in fast food restaurants. But trans fats are very harmful to people.
In Denmark, a 2004 law only allows "a minuscule amount of trans fat in foods". Everyone ought to follow their example and begin switching to "liquid vegetable oils such as canola, corn, olive or soy".
At a New York City McDonald's, a large fries and chicken nuggets combo was found to contain 10.2 grams of the trans fat, compared with 0.33 grams in Denmark and about 3 grams in Spain, Russia and the Czech Republic.
A large order of french fries at a New York City McDonald's contained 30 percent more trans fat than the same order from an Atlanta McDonald's.
The difference is due to the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are high in trans fatty acids. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are often used to save money since they last longer than regular vegetable oils. They are used in many products including cookies and microwave popcorn, and are also used for frying in fast food restaurants. But trans fats are very harmful to people.
Trans fat raises bad cholesterol and lowers good cholesterol. Eating just 5 grams of it per day increases the risk of heart disease 25 percent, research shows.
"Per gram, it is more harmful than any other kind of fat," Stender said. "It's a metabolic poison."
In Denmark, a 2004 law only allows "a minuscule amount of trans fat in foods". Everyone ought to follow their example and begin switching to "liquid vegetable oils such as canola, corn, olive or soy".
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