Is hydrogenated fat in peanut butter safe to eat?

“Dear Barbara: Is hydrogenated peanut butter as wholesome because the nonhydrogenated form? Hydrogenated peanut butter solely provides a half-gram of saturated fats to peanut butter’s content material, so it will appear OK to eat, however what do you assume?”

I believe you requested an excellent query, David. And it’s one which requires some background. Bear with me.

Ever marvel why olive or different vegetable oils in your cupboard get rancid extra shortly than, say, butter or coconut oil? Fats which can be extra strong at room temperature are extra steady; they don’t disintegrate as shortly. This is basically resulting from their larger content material of saturated fats.

That’s what the method of hydrogenation does. It “saturates” a liquid oil with hydrogen to make it extra strong and thus extra shelf steady.

There is a giant distinction, nonetheless, between fat which can be absolutely versus partially hydrogenated. Partially hydrogenated fat that used to reside in some margarines and snack meals are now not allowed in our meals provide as a result of they’re the primary supply of synthetic trans fats.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, trans fat increase the extent of LDL (“dangerous”) ldl cholesterol within the blood. An elevated LDL degree within the blood will increase your threat of creating coronary heart illness, the main explanation for loss of life in women and men within the U.S.

Removing partially hydrogenated oils from processed meals might stop 1000’s of coronary heart assaults and deaths every year, says the FDA. And that’s what the administration did in 2018.

On the opposite hand, hydrogenated oils (not partially hydrogenated) are nonetheless allowed in some meals merchandise (together with peanut butter) to take care of freshness. Although these merchandise don’t include trans fat (verify the label), the method of hydrogenation produces extra saturated fats, which we’re referred to as to restrict in our diets.

So again to your query, David. The healthiest peanut butter is one with zero trans fats and a low quantity of saturated fats, hydrogenated or not.

Not confused sufficient but? I’m taking a look at a jar of “pure” peanut butter that accommodates no hydrogenated oil — simply peanuts, sugar, palm oil and salt. And it has 3.5 grams of saturated fats per serving. Where did that come from? While peanuts include principally good monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, they do include a small quantity of saturated fats. And palm oil is of course excessive in saturated fats.

I’d say that half-gram of saturated fats in your peanut butter stabilized with hydrogenated oil just isn’t a lot to fret about.