Just the Facts!

for Healthier School Meals

Trim Trans Fat

 Most Americans, including 

children, need to decrease 

their intake of trans fat. 

 A high intake of trans fat, as 

well as saturated fat, may 

increase the risk of coronary 

heart disease.

 Schools should serve meals 

with no added trans fat. Help 

protect students’ hearts by 

serving foods containing or 

prepared with healthy oils 

rather than trans fats.

KEY ISSUES: We know that fats and oils are a part of a healthful diet, but the 

type of fat makes a difference to heart health. Most Americans 

need to decrease their intakes of foods containing trans fat to lower 

the risk of heart disease. Get your oils from fish, avocados, and 

liquid oils, such as corn oil, soybean oil, olive oil, and canola oil.

Although a small amount of trans fat is found naturally in foods like 

meat, butter, and dairy products, most trans fat is formed during 

processing -- hydrogen is added to an oil to make a more solid fat, 

like shortening or margarine. This process, called “hydrogenation,” 

increases shelf life and helps maintain the flavor and texture of 

foods. Many manufacturers have reduced or removed trans fat from 

their food products, but it is still important to read the food labels.

The school meal patterns require that schools 

eliminate products with added trans fat. 

Check the Nutrition Facts labels and note 

the amount of “trans fat” listed. Naturally 

occurring trans fat 

is allowable.

Easy ways to 

follow the 2010

Dietary Guidelines for 

Americans

Recipe for Success

 Write specifications for food products with no artificial trans fat.

 Check Nutrition Facts labels and ingredient lists on similar foods. 

Choose the food with zero trans fat. Review nutrition labels frequently, 

as products change regularly. Foods that list “shortening” or “partially 

hydrogenated vegetable oil” as an ingredient contain trans fat.

 When purchasing foods, look for products with no trans fat. Look 

for manufacturers that have eliminated trans fat in their products.

 Serve nonbreaded meat products, which usually contain less trans

fat than breaded products. Grill, bake, or broil these foods to lower the 

fat content further.
USDA Foods Program

USDA eliminated trans fat from its peanut butter and frozen potato products, and stopped offering 

solid shortening and butter many years ago. For more information about USDA Foods products 

and updates on efforts to reduce trans fat in other popular products, check out the USDA Foods 

Toolkit at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/foods/healthy/Professional.htm to review the Foods Available 

List for Schools. 

Messages for Students

 Check the Nutrition Facts label and choose 

foods with zero grams of trans fat. Choose 

fewer foods that have the words “shortening” 

and “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” on the 

ingredients list.

 Pay attention to the amount of trans fat in the 

foods you eat. Eating foods made with trans fat 

may increase your risk of heart disease. The extra 

calories from trans fat also make it harder for you 

to grow at a healthy weight.

 Offer fruit for dessert to satisfy students’ taste 

for sweet foods.

 Discontinue the sale of á la carte snacks

containing trans fat such as certain types of 

cakes, cookies, and crackers.

 Take the HealthierUS School Challenge! Go 

for the Gold and offer meals that include more 

fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are 

naturally low in trans fat http://www.fns.usda.gov/

tn/healthierus/index.html. 

For More Information: 

Team Nutrition (http://teamnutrition.usda.gov)

USDA Choose MyPlate (www.ChooseMyPlate.gov)

MyPlate (http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/myplate.html) 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Trans Fat at-a-Glance

(http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/

ucm079609.htm)

Trimming the Fat (http://www.nfsmi.org/documentlibraryfiles/

PDF/20120102035517.pdf)

U.S. Department of Agriculture ● Food and Nutrition Service ● August 2012 ● FNS 449-H ● USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Just the Facts: Trim Trans Fats http://teamnutrition.usda.gov

Did You Know? 

 Trans fat can be found in many of the same 

foods as saturated fat. Trans fats are also 

solid at room temperature. Examples include 

stick margarine, shortening, and ready-to-use 

frostings.

 Eating foods containing trans fat is 

associated with higher levels of total 

cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 

cholesterol in the blood. Higher total and LDL 

cholesterol levels can put people at greater risk 

for heart disease. Too much LDL cholesterol can 

slowly clog the arteries supplying blood to the 

heart and brain. This increases your risk for a 

heart attack or stroke.