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Maltesers
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Where are Maltesers made?
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It is modified oil, acting as a preservative, extending the shelf life of products.
Typically, the source - e.g. soya beans, cottonseed, rapeseed etc ' is shattered mechanically or by using chemical solvents. The solvent is boiled off but up to 100 parts per million remain in the oil. Depending on the source, the oil (including fish oil) may contain 'free fatty acids' that have to be removed by treating the oil with a solution of caustic soda at a temperature of 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit. The oil is then skimmed off from the 'soap' that forms and it is treated with a petroleum-based antioxidant to prevent it going rancid. In order to harden the oil, fusion with hydrogen takes place under pressure and at very high temperatures using a catalyst e.g. nickel, aluminium or cobalt. This leaves a residue in the oil and, as the metals are toxic to the body, a scavenging process is used to remove them.
Hydrogenation allows the manufacturer to turn liquid oil into something that resembles butter - the colour, texture and taste - whilst it is actually something very different.
It still sounds quite tasty, so why is it harmful?
Unhydrogenated oils contain essential fatty acids. During the process of hydrogenation, hydrogen atoms are relocated to the opposite side of the molecular structure of the fatty acid. In other words, the oils are changed at a molecular level. This newly formed molecular configuration has been named "trans" and it is a molecular structure that the body has problems with. Artificially created trans-fatty acids alter the normal transport of minerals and other nutrients across cell membranes. They also weaken the protective structure and function of the cell.
continued ...
In 1998, the American Heart Association issued a statement: "In clinical studies, trans-fatty acids or hydrogenated fats tend to raise total blood cholesterol levels. Fatty acids also tend to raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol when used instead of fatty acids or natural oils. These changes may increase the risk of heart disease.'
A 14 year study in the U.S. involving 85,000 nurses showed that people consuming the most trans-fatty acids have the highest rate of heart disease.
Studies of trans-fatty acids have shown the following detrimental effects (amongst others):-
' Lowers high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol,
' Raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
' Lowers the amount of cream (volume) in milk from lactating females in all species studied, including humans, thus lowering the overall quality available to the infant
' Increases blood insulin levels in humans in response to glucose load, increasing risk for diabetes
' Affects immune response
' Decreases the response of the red blood cell to insulin, a potentially undesirable effect in diabetics
' Increases non-insulin dependent type diabetes
' Affects activities of the enzyme system that handles chemical carcinogens and medication
' Increases breast cancer in women
' Increases heart disease in men and women
and finally...
Where can hydrogenated oils be found?
It is alarming just how many products contain Hydrogenated vegetable fat. Here are some examples of the products that I have come across incorporating these oils :-
' Christmas puddings, cakes and mince pies
' A very large proportion of biscuit brands (not Maryland cookies), Ritz crackers
' Fresh and frozen pizzas, ready-made meals and pasta dishes
' Pastry products such as quiches, pasties and pies, pork pies
' Suet, gravy granules and stock cubes
' Chocolate bars such as Mars, Snickers, Double Decker, Twix, Cadbury's Caramel, Maltesers
' Chewy sweets such as toffees and chocolate eclairs, Starburst (Opal Fruits), Fruitella, liquorice allsorts (not Bassetts)
' A broad range of ice creams ' typically the cheaper end of the market
' It is even used in Bachelors Super Noodles and by M&S as glazing agent for dried fruit!
On 24 May, 2003, it was announced that the recipes for Mars Bars and Snickers in Britain have been changed to remove the trans fat because of health concerns. On 5 July 2003, the UK arm of Nestle announced that it is removing trans fat from Rolo and Toffee Crisp and possibly other products, and Cadbury is considering doing the same. Clearly, British food manufacturers are getting the message. Denmark has banned hydrogenated oils for over 40 years. It is interesting then that Denmark has the lowest diagnosed rates of heart disease, cancers, breast cancer, diabetes, auto-immune diseases than any other country in the world. What is even more interesting is that they consume more saturated fat in the form of dairy products.
Sources :-
'Food combining for health' by Doris Grant and Jean Joyce ISBN 0-7225-0882-4
'Hydrogenated Oils - The Silent Killers' by David Dewey October 15th, 1998
http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/h
ydrogenated-fats.html http://www.bantransfats.com/brits.htm http://www.health-n-energy.com/cla.htm Shopping trips to Tesco's, Waitrose and other fine stores
ydrogenated-fats.html http://www.bantransfats.com/brits.htm http://www.health-n-energy.com/cla.htm Shopping trips to Tesco's, Waitrose and other fine stores