No. Currently labeling regulations allow food companies to report “0 grams of trans-fat” on a Nutrition Facts label when a food product contains 0.5 grams of trans-fat or less per serving. Some examples include commercial baked goods, crackers, peanut butter and margarine. So, it is possible to exceed the recommended daily amount of trans-fat (2 grams per day) if you consume several servings of these products in a day.
After checking the Nutrition Facts’ label for trans fat, it is also a good idea to check the ingredient list. Try to avoid products that contain hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is a sign that the product contains some trans-fat.
Of course, there are many characteristics that make foods heart healthy. For example, heart-healthy foods are --
- low in saturated and trans fat,
- moderate in mono- and polyunsaturated fats,
- low in sodium, and
- high in fiber and whole grains.
Learning how to read "Nutrition Facts" labels will help you determine which foods can be a regular part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Check out our step-by-step for Reading Food Labels.