Objective: Trans isomers of fatty acids (TFA) contain double bonds in their molecular structure with the trans configuration. Food products prominent for their TFA content include plant oils (margarine), mayonnaise, products baked with plant oils, and ready-made glazes and icings. The so-called fast foods and snacks (bars, chips) represent a significant source of TFA, particularly for children and youth. Considering the potentially atherogenic properties of TFA, this work was undertaken to determine the content of the principal monounsaturated TFA in some food products ubiquitous on the market, i.e. margarines and snacks.
Material and methods: We studied bars (Snickers, Mars, Twix), chips (Lay's, Snack, Cheetos), and margarines (Rama Classic, Rama Olivio, Vita, Flora, Finea, Delma, Masmix, Krówka, Smakowita with butter, Extra Pomorskie). The content of TFA was determined with gas chromatography.
Results: The highest content ofmonounsatured TFA among sweets was disclosed for the Twix bar (2.94 microg/g), while the lowest for Snickers (0.3 microg/g). Among margarines, the highest content of TFA was found for Smakowita with butter (87.6 microg/g), Krówka (46 microg/g), and Vita (38.7 microg/g), whereas the content was lowest in Finea (0.12 microg/g) and Delma (0.14 microg/g). In the case of chips, the content was highest for Cheetos (3.5 microg/g) and lowest for Snack (0.09 microg/g).
Conclusions: The content of atherogenic TFA in common food products varies widely. In some cases, the content of TFA is considerable and unjustly undisclosed by manufacturers. Promotion of these products should include information in respect of TFA. This conclusion is of particular importance considering the significance of these products in the diet of children and youth.