Changes in fat contents of US snack foods in response to mandatory trans fat labelling.
OBJECTIVE
Impact of mandatory trans fat labelling on US snack food introductions is examined.


METHODS
Using label information, lipid ingredients and fat profiles are compared pre- and post-labelling.


METHODS
Key products in the US snack food industry contribute significant amounts of artificial trans fat. Industry efforts to reformulate products to lower trans fat may alter the overall fat profile, in particular saturates.


METHODS
Composition data for more than 5000 chip and cookie products introduced for sale between 2001 (pre-labelling) and 2009 (post-labelling) were analysed.


RESULTS
One-way ANOVA was used to test for significant changes in saturated fat content per serving and the ratio of saturated to total fat. The shares of chip and cookie introductions containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oil declined by 45 and 42 percentage points, respectively. In cookies, there was an increase of 0·49 (98 % CI 0·01, 0·98) g in the average saturated fat content per 30 g serving and an increase of 9 (98 % CI 3, 15) % in the average ratio of saturated to total fat. No statistically significant changes in fat content were observed in chips.


CONCLUSIONS
This research suggests that, holding other factors constant, the policy has resulted in a decreased use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in chip products without a corresponding increase in saturated fat content, but led to significantly higher levels of saturated fat and ratio of saturated fat to total fat in cookie products.
Nielsen, Bensalem, PA, USA.
Debra
D
Van Camp
Neal H
NH
Hooker
Chung-Tung Jordan
CT
Lin
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005504:Food Analysis; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D062410:Snacks; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D014481:United States
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids