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Partially hydrogenated oils

This page explains what Partially hydrogenated oils is, where it shows up in restaurant food, and which restaurant menus list it.

Concern
High
Function
Oil

What this is

Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) are vegetable oils chemically processed to be more solid, creating artificial trans fats. For decades, PHOs were widely used in fast-food fry oils, shortenings, and baked goods to extend shelf life and improve texture – but these trans fats also raise “bad” LDL and lower “good” HDL cholesterol, a combination that increases the risk of heart disease. Due to these health risks, the U.S. FDA determined in 2015 that PHOs were not safe for use in food and mandated their removal from the food supply (with a final phase-out by 2018).

Safety Review

The health areas reviewed when evaluating an ingredient. This does not mean the ingredient is proven to cause harm.

Cardiovascular

Restaurant Usage

0 restaurants

Restaurants will appear here when their published menu information lists this ingredient.

State Policies

0 state policies

No current state policy is listed for this ingredient.

Federal Policies

0 federal policies

No current federal policy is listed for this ingredient.