There are three types of fats in foods, saturated fat, unsaturated fat and trans fat. Trans Fatty Acids, or Trans Fat, are formed when liquid vegetable oils are made into solid fats through a process called partial hydrogenation.

Trans fat is present in foods for a variety of reasons. In products such as spreads and margarine, partially hydrogenated oil, which contains trans fat, provides texture and body; while in foods such as crackers and chips partially hydrogenated oil provides shelf stability. Animal-based products, such as meat and milk naturally contain a very small amount of trans fat.

Trans fat is believed to increase the risk of heart disease because it raises the blood level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called "bad cholesterol," while lowering the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

The FDA estimates that Americans eat between 5 and 6 grams of trans fat per day, and while the FDA has not yet determined how many grams of trans fat is too much, they recommend avoiding trans fat as much as possible.

Completely avoiding trans fat may be nearly impossible, as even foods such as milk and beef contain a trivial amount of naturally occurring trans fat. However, you can reduce your trans fat consumption by choosing LAND O LAKES® Butter, LAND O LAKES® Margarine in the tub and LAND O LAKES® Fresh Buttery Taste™ Spread in the tub, all of which contain 0 grams trans fat per serving. Additionally, baking and cooking from scratch, thus eating fewer processed, shelf-stable foods containing partially-hydrogenated oils may also help limit your intake of trans fat.

Even though the FDA has not identified an acceptable daily value, beginning in January 2006, all packaged food labels will be required to list how many grams of trans fat are contained per serving. Trans fat information will be listed along with other fats on the nutritional label of all foods. Land O'Lakes is in the process of changing all product labels to include this information. You may also visit our Products section to see trans fat content of our products.

Dairy products are naturally low in trans fat. Try these LAND O LAKES® Products that have 0 grams of trans fat per serving.

Butter, Salted — Stick
Butter, Unsalted — Stick
Butter, Salted — Whipped
Butter, Unsalted — Whipped
Butter, Ultra Creamy — Salted
Butter, Ultra Creamy — Unsalted
Light Butter, Salted — Stick
Light Butter, Salted — Whipped
Honey Butter
Roasted Garlic Butter
Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil
Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil
Fresh Buttery Taste™ Spread (Tub)
Margarine (Tub)
Dairy Case Chunk Cheese
Dairy Case Individually Wrapped Singles
Dairy Case Snack Cheese
Dairy Case Reduced Fat Cheese
Dairy Case Loaf Cheese
Deli Chunk Cheese
Deli Pre-Sliced Cheese
Deli Slicing Cheese

FDA regulations require that all ingredients, no matter how small the amount, be listed on a product's ingredient information. When the level of trans fat is less than 0.5 grams per serving, the FDA regulations allow manufacturers to list as containing 0g trans fat in the nutritional chart.