Partially Hydrogenated
What is Partially Hydrogenated?
Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) are fats made by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils. This process makes the oils more solid at room temperature and also creates artificial trans fats.
Is Partially Hydrogenated vegan?
Partially Hydrogenated is not animal-derived. Products that contain it can still include other animal-derived ingredients, so check the full ingredient list.
Is Partially Hydrogenated a major allergen?
Partially hydrogenated oils themselves are not a major allergen.
What is Partially Hydrogenated used for?
Manufacturers used PHOs to improve the texture, stability, and shelf life of processed foods.
Is Partially Hydrogenated safe?
The FDA determined that partially hydrogenated oils are no longer Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use in human food, effective in 2018.
Why it's used
Manufacturers used PHOs to improve the texture, stability, and shelf life of processed foods. They were commonly found in baked goods, fried foods, snack foods, and some spreads.
Health notes
The FDA determined that partially hydrogenated oils are no longer Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use in human food, effective in 2018. This action effectively removed most artificial trans fats from the US food supply. High intake of artificial trans fats is linked to an increased risk of heart disease by raising "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and lowering "good" (HDL) cholesterol. JECFA and EFSA have both evaluated trans fatty acids, noting concerns about their impact on cardiovascular health.
Allergen info
Partially hydrogenated oils themselves are not a major allergen. However, they are derived from vegetable oils, some of which (like soybean oil) are major allergens.
Foods that contain Partially Hydrogenated
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