Monday, 11 October 2004

KFC and McDonalds head 'killer fats' top ten 

The fat used to extend shelf-life in processed foods is the most serious of several hidden dangers in our diet, according to researchers from Which? magazine. The only safe level of so-called trans fats is none at all yet many popular foods contain several grams.

We’ve long been told that too many of the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products can clog up the arteries and cause heart disease and heart attacks. But gram for gram, trans fats are still more dangerous according to the European Food Safety Authority. While raising levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDLs), they also reduce levels of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDLs).

The Trans Fat Top Ten in the Which? survey was:

1. KFC Colonel’s regular crispy strips and fries
2. McDonald’s McNuggets and regular fries
3. Saxby’s reasy-rolled short pastry
4. Tesco toffee fudge shortbread
5. Burger King whopper and regular fries
6. Sainsbury’s puff-pastry beef and onion pie
7. Lidl le cheef cheese, onion and chives quiche
8. Cadbury’s Boost bar
9. Aunt Bessie’s homestyle roast potatoes
10. Asda sausage roll

All of these products contain a gram or more of transfats. The KFC meal contains a stonking 4.4g; the McDonald’s meal 3g. Full details at which.co.uk.

‘It is irresponsible of food manufacturers to include an artificial ingredient that can only do harm,’ said Malcolm Coles, the editor of Which? ‘Other governments have taken action on trans fat. Ours must give food manufacturers an ultimatum to stop peddling it.

At the moment you often can’t work out how much trans fat is in a particular product as it need not be listed on the food label.  For this reason, many people are avoiding all processed foods as far as possible. Processed foods are also sources of hidden salts and sugars.

Jim Pollard, editor of malehealth said:  ‘It’s less important to change what you eat than to choose the least-processed version of it. The more factories and lorries your food has been through, the more likely it is to have had sugars, salts and fats added. Avoid ready-meals and pre-packed options. Don’t buy a chicken meal, buy a chicken. Fresh fruit and vegetables are usually better than frozen. Frozen are always better than tinned.’

• Look out for the ‘only article on food and diet that you need even read’ coming during November on malehealth.
  

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