WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- The head of the Health and Human Services Commission told reporters Wednesday food labels will soon include information on trans fatty acids.
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said that would give consumers better information to use in picking healthy food.
The new requirement will mean manufacturers of most foods will have to put trans fat content of products in the Nutrition Facts part of the label, in addition to information about overall fat and saturated fat content.
The new information labels will give consumers a way to choose foods low in trans fat, saturated fat and cholesterol -- all of which are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Reducing the intake of trans fat and saturated fats is recommended by the Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Under the new Food and Drug Administration regulations, by Jan. 1, 2006, consumers will be able to find trans fat listed on food nutrition labels directly under the line for saturated fat.
