Food - News
The Surprising Reason Ritz Crackers Are Banned In Other Countries
By LAUREN DAVID
Ritz crackers contain partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil — a type of unhealthy trans fat that is not allowed in food products in many European countries, and in some regions in the U.S., too. Yet, many food companies depend on the oil, as it increases product shelf life and helps ingredients mix well.
However, trans fats increase low-density lipoproteins (LDL) — “bad” cholesterol — which can build up in the bloodstream, block arteries, and increase the possibility of heart disease. In fact, in 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that many partially hydrogenated oils are unsafe to consume.
Unfortunately, an FDA loophole allows food manufacturers to legally state that a product has zero trans fat as long as it has less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. Consumers who don’t pay attention to serving size, or eat various foods that claim zero trans fats, can be consuming a lot of trans fat unknowingly.