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The BC Government through ActNow BC and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon are working together to support the food industry in restricting industrially-produced trans fat. Call 8-1-1 to speak to a HealthLink BC dietition

Reading the ingredient list

 

All food in your food service establishment must meet the 2% and 5% trans fat restrictions.

Review documentation for all of the food that you order into your establishment for industrially produced trans fat. Documentation can be on the food label or a product specification sheet.

  1. Read the ingredient list for the following words:  “hydrogenated," “partially hydrogenated," “margarine” or “shortening."
  2. If a food has none of these ingredients, it meets the restrictions and can be used in your establishment.
  3. If a food has one or more of these ingredients, read the Nutrition Facts table  and calculate the amount of trans fat.
  4. The food can be used in your food service establishment if it is:
    • 2% trans fat or less of the total fat content for all oil and soft spreadable margarine; and
    • 5% trans fat or less of the total fat content in all other products.

 

Reading the Nutrition Facts table

  1. Look at the section for “fat” on the Nutrition Facts table.
  2. Find both the amounts of total fat and trans fat in grams (g) for the food.  Do not refer to the % Daily Value to calculate trans fat.
  3. Enter these two amounts into the trans fat calculator to see if the food meets the 2% and 5% trans fat restrictions. Or follow this calculation:

    trans fat (g) ÷ total fat (g) x 100 = % trans fat of the total fat content


    Using this Nutrition Facts table as an example:

    0.5 g trans fat ÷ 14 g total fat × 100 = 3.57% trans fat of the total fat content.

    Using this Nutrition Facts table, this product meets the 5% trans fat restriction.

 

If you need telephone information, call 8-1-1 and ask to speak to a HealthLink BC dietitian.

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