An online database of harmful trans isomers has been created
The Food and Nutrition Institute has announced the opening of an online database of harmful trans isomers, which are included in many food products. This is the first such free and publicly available database in Poland.
The base performs primarily informational and educational functions. It allows the user to check the fat contentoin trans in the amount ofon unsaturated fats. Currently, food manufacturers are not required to state on their product packagingoin the amount of isomer content in themoin trans. Although you may see a label saying that the product contains „partially hydrogenated fats”.
Trans isomers acidow unsaturated fats occur naturally in someoricultural products (e.g. in dairy products or beef). However, their significant source ofodłem in the diet wspohe industrially produced food has become the modern man. These isomers can rot can also be formed in the process of fat hardeningoin plant and fish. As pointed out by experts from the Institute of Food and Nutrition (IŻŻ), trans isomers are also formed during prolonged frying without changing the oil (especiallyolnie rich in these harmful substances were once common French fries, fried in old fat).
The IZŻ recommends avoiding fatoin trans. They show only negative effects on the human body. They increase the risk of diseasesob cardiovascular, canceroin, diabetes or atherosclerosis. They also disrupt respiratory function and can cause infertility.
– They are particularlyoespecially dangerous for the cardiovascular system, as they increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis, a disease that leads m.in. for infarctionoin heart and strokeoin mozgu. It has been proven that trans fats increase the concentration of „bad” cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, while lowering the level of "good" cholesterol (HDL), and also contribute to the development of dysfunction of the middleodg vasculature – explained at a press conference, Professor Miroslaw Jarosz, director of the IZŻ. – Trans fats also disrupt gene expressionoIn, they increase the risk of developing diseasedob allergies, diabetes and even depression. They are also known to contribute to low-level chronic inflammation, whichory promotes roof all kinds of diseases, including cancer – added the researcher.
Trans isomers occur m.in. in hard margarines, confectionery fats, chips, fast food products, powdered soups or snacks. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the consumption of fatoin trans should not exceed a level of 1 percent. ogoThe energy content of daily food intake.
In practice, however, due to the lack of information about the amount of fatoin trans contained in products, it is actually difficult to control the level of their daily consumption. And here with help comes an online database of harmful isomersow.
Currently, data for 568 products are available in the databaseow of seven categories: food concentrates, milk and dairy products, fast food, specialty foods, vegetable fats, confectionery and pastry products, grains, cereals, and other foodso¿ and cereal and flour products. Over time, the database is expected to expand to include new categories, including sweet spread creams, doughnuts and yeastowki or noodle-type soups.
