The UK Consumers’ Association’s Which? magazine has called for trans fat to be removed from processed foods after a survey revealed that trans fat is present in “shocking levels” in many products.

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Which? tested 30 popular foods that contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat or oil and found that some KFC meals contains 4.4g of trans fat, a Burger King Whopper and fries contains 2.3 g, and a McDonald’s McNugget meal contains 3g of trans fat.


Trans fat occurs naturally in small amounts in dairy products and meat, but it is also formed artificially when manufacturers hydrogenate fat or oil. One reason for this is to extend food shelf life. It has no nutritional value and is believed to be more dangerous to the heart than saturated fat.


And it’s not just fastfood that contains trans fat. Three Tesco’s wheat and gluten free toffee fudge shortbread contain 2.5g of trans fat, a Sainsbury’s puff pastry minced beef and onion pie contains 1.8g of trans fat, a 180g portion of Lidl Le Chef cheese, onion and chive quiche contains 1.3g, and a Cadbury’s Boost bar contains 1.2g, according to the survey.


Which? says food manufacturers are aware of the problems with trans fat, and some have cut levels, but they are not doing nearly enough.

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“It’s irresponsible of food manufacturers to include an artificial ingredient in processed food that can only do you harm. If the government really is committed to improving the health of the nation, it urgently needs to take action on this disgusting stealth fat and give food manufacturers an ultimatum to stop peddling it,” said Malcolm Coles, editor of Which?.


“By the end of this year, we want targets set for manufacturers to eliminate artificial trans fat from their products. We also want information on trans fat to be included on nutrition labels,” he added.


“At the moment it’s impossible to know how much trans fat we’re consuming as it doesn’t have to be labelled. As some experts believe the only safe level of artery clogging trans fat is zero, this has got to change,” Coles said.


In response to the Which? survey on trans fats, the Food and Drink Federation, which represents manufacturers, said the food industry is “fully committed to reducing the level of trans fats to as low as is technically possible and has been actively reducing these levels”.


“In fact, the Government’s latest national diet and nutrition survey (NDNS) shows how the consumption of trans fats has fallen from 2.1% of total energy in 1985 to 1.2% energy in 2000,” the FDF said.