Daily HealthBeat Tip

Trans. Right there on the label

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Americans who are keeping an eye on the amount of trans fat in their food now have easier way to spot the stuff.

Under a federal rule that took effect this year, the amount of trans fat has to be listed on the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label, just as saturated fat and cholesterol are listed.

These fats are linked to higher blood cholesterol levels and higher risk of cardiovascular disease. So Barbara Schneeman of the Food and Drug Administration says consumers should pay attention to controlling fats.

"They want to keep saturated fat less than 10 percent of energy, cholesterol less than 300 milligrams per day, and trans fat should be kept as low as possible." (10 seconds)

Up to 2006, manufacturers could list trans fats if they chose to. Now they have to.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January 24, 2005

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