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Have pity for the Fast-Food chains who are being forced by consumer groups and Heart Foundations to keep reducing levels of unprocessed fats, and are constantly being pressured to use refined vegetable oils more and more.
All this pressure has resulted in Fast-Foods now being the greatest source of man-made trans-fats in our diet.
The following letter will be sent to all major fast-food franchises to gauge their policies with regard to trans-fats. We will publish their responses so you can decide how safe these outlets are.
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to you about an issue that I feel is very important to the health of all New Zealanders.
Most people in Australia and New Zealand have been learning that to maintain a healthy heart they should avoid eating saturated fats and cholesterol. This idea has been promoted heavily by the Heart-Foundation, consumer groups and industry. Take-away outlets like your own have been pressured into using refined vegetable oils and less animal fats and tropical oils as a result.
Research done by the Lipids expert Dr Mary Enig and confirmed by many other eminent lipids researchers have shown this assumption to be grossly wrong, and that the use of hydrogenated oils is the danger.
In an attempt to promote to New Zealanders the dangers hydrogenated oils I have created a website goodfat.net.nz.
The aim of this site is to encourage legislative changes to enforce the mandatory labelling of trans-fat levels in all foods containing hydrogenated oils, and before that arises, encourage as many companies to adopt a policy on hydrogenated oils and voluntary labelling. The site also hopes to challenge the usual assertion that users should avoid tropical oils, animal fats and cholesterol, as pushed by the National Heart Foundation.
The following questions are being asked of several major franchises and the answers will published on the website to provide a guide to consumers as to what your franchise is doing to address the problem of hydrogenated oils and the health status of your products.
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Does your franchise have a policy regarding the use of hydrogenated oils in your franchise stores?
Does your nutritional guide information advise consumers of the levels of man-made trans-fats in your products? if not, can we expect this in the future?
What is your policy towards the use of "saturated" unrefined oils such as palm oils and animal fats, and is your franchise aware that the many eminent scientists have argued that the use of these fats is not only safe but much safer than using refined vegetable oils?
What type of oil is usually used for frying products? and what percentage of man-made trans-fats does this contain?
Does your franchise use any other products such as margarines, mayonnaise, ice-confections that may contain hydrogenated vegetable oils? if so what levels of man-made trans-fats are found in them?
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Thanks for your time.
Regards Gordon Rouse
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update 25/9/2006
It is dissapointing, that of all the mail sent (by email or snail mail) only bakers delight have managed to reply! |
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Current Poll Results
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The milk I consume most is: |
Naturalea 4% unhomogenised (
12 %)
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Farmhouse (4%) unhomogenised (
4 %)
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Standard (3.3%) homogenised (
9 %)
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Low Fat Milk Homogenised (
31 %)
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Real Farm Milk - non pasteurised (
43 %)
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