Hydrogenated
What is Hydrogenated?
Hydrogenated oils are fats that have undergone a process called hydrogenation. This process adds hydrogen atoms to unsaturated fatty acids in liquid oils, converting them into solid or semi-solid fats. This change makes the fats more stable and extends their shelf life.
Is Hydrogenated a major allergen?
Hydrogenated oils themselves are not major allergens.
What is Hydrogenated used for?
Manufacturers use hydrogenated oils to improve the texture, stability, and shelf life of food products.
Is Hydrogenated safe?
In the US, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), which were a major source of artificial trans fats, are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS) since 2018.
Why it's used
Manufacturers use hydrogenated oils to improve the texture, stability, and shelf life of food products. They help create a desired consistency in baked goods like cookies and breads, and prevent separation in spreads such as peanut butter.
Health notes
In the US, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), which were a major source of artificial trans fats, are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS) since 2018. This action by the FDA effectively removed most artificial trans fats from the food supply due to their link to increased risk of heart disease. Fully hydrogenated oils (FHOs), however, are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and do not contain significant levels of trans fats. JECFA has evaluated trans fatty acids and their health implications.
Allergen info
Hydrogenated oils themselves are not major allergens. However, they are often derived from vegetable oils such as soybean oil, which is one of the nine major allergens.
Foods that contain Hydrogenated
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