Trans fatty acids (trans fats) originate from a process known as hydrogenation which involves adding hydrogen to vegetable oil. The National Institute of Health (NIH) says trans fatty acids may raise the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. In recent years, the use of trans fatty acids has declined due to concerns over its negative effects on health. The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests restricting trans fats to less than 1 percent of your total daily calorie intake. A number of foods contain trans fatty acid.
Commercial Baked Goods
A wide assortment of commercial baked items contain trans fatty acids. They include crackers, cookies, pastries, cakes and pizza dough. The ingredients in Bisquick and other boxed biscuit mixes generally include several grams of trans fat per serving.
Fried Foods
Many fried foods, such as doughnuts and French fries, are often high in trans fats. According to St. John's Health System, a medium-size order of French fries at some fast-food restaurants may contain up to 8g of trans fat.
Processed Foods
Trans fat can be found in a number of frozen foods such as pot pies, crispy crackers and microwave popcorn. High amounts of trans fat is contained in certain vegetable shortenings and some margarines. Ramen noodles and soup cups also have high levels of trans fatty acids.
Natural Trans Fats
In recent years, the use of trans fat has declined due to concerns over its negative effects on health. U.S. food manufacturers are now required to list trans fatty acid content on nutrition labels. Nevertheless, small amounts of trans fats acids may occur naturally in some meat and dairy products. These include beef, lamb and butterfat.
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