The High Cost of Bargain Snacks

While most manufacturers have cut back on the trans fats used in their products, some still haven't gone trans fat-free.

by Blair Tidwell

Attention, budget shoppers: If you're trying to trim your grocery bill, take extra care to read labels. After reviewing several types of packaged food, like cookies, snack cakes, and chips, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that less expensive items tend to have more trans fats than those that cost a little more. These processed fats, which have been shown to raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol level, may show up on ingredient lists as partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oil and shortening. While most manufacturers have cut back on the trans fats used in their products, some still haven't gone trans fat-free. In fact, 24 percent of the items researchers examined still contained some of the heart-unfriendly ingredient. The American Heart Association recommends limiting the amount of trans fat you eat to less than 1 percent of your total daily calories.