That’s because the FDA labeling only regulate triglyceride-related trans fat, not ones like mono- and diglycerides. In fact, Hari warns that some foods containing trace amounts of trans fat due to mono- and diglyceride ingredients could even harbor “No Trans Fat” food labels.

They’re found in everything from bread and cookies to peanut butter, pancake mixes, other baked goods and more.Īnd here’s where it gets tricky when it comes to this dangerous additive: Even though mono- and diglycerides may contain trans fat, they aren’t required to be labeled as trans fats on food packages. So as companies phased out trans fat, they turned to what may seem like a more innocuous, harmless preservative replacement in monoglycerides and diglycerides. This additive is a byproduct of oil processing – including partially hydrogenated canola and soybean oils – which contains artificial trans fat – a danger food ingredient known to cause coronary heart disease and linked to 50,000 fatal heart attacks a year.Ĭenter for Science in the Public Interest notes that “gram-for-gram, trans fat is the most harmful fat of all.” In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration finally determined that trans fat is no longer generally recognized as safe for food use. Hari explains that this additive is a byproduct of oil processing, including partially hydrogenated canola and soybean oils. It’s the go-to replacement for deadly trans fats and a food industry staple that helps keep oil and fat from separating. The dangerous additive in question is a class of emulsifiers called “monoglycerides” and “diglycerides.” food supply, including a laundry list of chemicals we should be avoiding. That’s saying something, since there are about 10,000 food additives in the U.S. During my podcast episode, I asked her what ingredient she’s currently most worried about. I recently interviewed author and activist Vani Hari, AKA The Food Babe, to chat about common ingredients lurking in people’s pantries.Īnd this one tops her list… Dangerous Additive Alert: Diglyceridesįor years, Hari has been successfully building campaigns to persuade giant food manufacturers and restaurants to eliminate problematic ingredients. Axe on PintrestĪ dangerous additive is likely lurking in your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - and thousands of other foods that could wind up on your plate.

Mono and diglycerides