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.
- Read the ingredient list for the following words: “hydrogenated," “partially hydrogenated," “margarine” or “shortening."
- If a food has none of these ingredients, it meets the restrictions and can be used in your establishment.
- If a food has one or more of these ingredients, read the Nutrition Facts table and calculate the amount of trans fat.
- 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
- Look at the section for “fat” on the Nutrition Facts table.
- 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.
- 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.