The type of fat you eat can affect your health, and nutrition label listings let you know just how much per serving you're taking in. Each label must list the total amount of fat, and the amount in grams of both saturated fat and trans fat. Other types of fats are either voluntary or not considered at all in the "Nutrition Facts" panel on packaging.
Unsaturated Fats
Both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are considered voluntary items when it comes to nutrition labels. Manufacturers can list these or not, so it is possible for an item to make no mention of these in the Nutrition Facts panel, although they are counted among total fat. These fats are generally liquid when at room temperature and are from plant sources. The University of Illinois Extension says both types can help with high cholesterol levels, and KidsHealth.org notes that the fats also do not raise cholesterol levels.
Essential Fatty Acids
Essential fatty acids are components of fats that have been singled out for their effects on our health. They are not included in the list of voluntary nutrients for nutrition labels. Essential fatty acids include Omega-3, commonly found in fish, some nuts and seeds, and olives and olive oil. Omega-6, another fatty acid, is found in meats and some vegetable oils. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that typical American diets have several times more Omega-6 than Omega-3. One effect of Omega-3 might be to lessen inflammation, but Omega-6 has mixed reviews. Maryland states that "some" Omega-6 acids increase it, yet the gamma-linolenic acid derived from Omega-6 fatty acids might help lessen inflammation.
Trans Fat on Old Labels
Food labels produced after January 1, 2006, are required to list trans fat as one of the mandatory fats, along with saturated fat. However, the FDA allowed manufacturers to use up old labels that didn't list trans fat as long as the manufacturer applied to the FDA to be exempt from the rule and the product had no more than 0.5g of trans fat in each serving. If for some reason you've managed to pick up an older product, it may have one of these excess-stock labels.
Member Comments