Question map
A company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans-fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers? 1. The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils. 2. The food products are not made out of animal fats/oils. 3. The oils used are not likely to damage the cardiovascular health of the consumer. Which of the statements given above is/ correct?
Explanation
A 'trans-fat free' campaign signifies that food products are not made from partially hydrogenated oils, which are the primary industrial source of trans fats [4]. Hydrogenation adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them solid, creating trans-fatty acids as a byproduct [2]. Statement 1 is correct because avoiding trans fats implies avoiding these hydrogenated oils. Statement 2 is incorrect because trans fats occur naturally in meat and dairy products from ruminant animals; thus, 'trans-fat free' does not necessarily mean the product is free of all animal fats [1]. Statement 3 is correct as trans fats are scientifically linked to serious cardiovascular risks, including raising LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowering HDL (good) cholesterol, leading to heart disease [1]. Therefore, the campaign assures consumers that the oils used are less likely to damage cardiovascular health.
Sources
- [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > 29.1.8. Transfat > p. 414
- [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat
- [2] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > 4.3.3 Addition Reaction > p. 71