Analyzing for Trans Fat

Since January 1, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration has required food companies to list the trans fatty acid ("trans fat") content on the Nutrition Facts panel of their products because of an established scientific link between consumption of trans fat and increased risk of coronary heart disease. Trans fatty acids occur naturally to some extent in meat and dairy products but are commonly formed during hydrogenation to manufacture margarine and other hardened-fat products.

There are two type…