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TOTAL: 30 MARKS
Read the following article and answer ALL the questions that follow.

What is the Fuss about Trans Fats?

I

Trans fats, or trans fatty acids are types of unsaturated fats that act like saturated
fats. The terms saturated and unsaturated refer to the types of molecules in the
fats. Saturated molecules have all their bonds used up, so they are more rigid and
stable. Unsaturated molecules, on the other hand, have some open bonds resulting
in a more reactive and liquid oil. They are bad for our heart because they raise the

level of bad cholesterol in our blood. Trans fats act like saturated fats to raise the
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and lower the High-Density Lipoprotein
(HDL) cholesterol.

II

Most of the trans fats we eat, about 64 per cent, are created as a by-product of the
process called hydrogenation where food manufacturers bubble hydrogen through

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liquid oils and turn them into solids to make cakes and pastries. This process perks
up not only the shelf life, but also the flavour and stability of the food. Trans fats can
be produced by heating oil and also occur naturally in the meat and milk of ruminant
animals such as cattle and sheep.

III

Although it is necessary to limit the intake of meat and dairy products, it is not a good

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idea to severely limit the consumption of meat since trans fats occur naturally in
some foods. Excluding them completely may result in eliminating other imperative
nutrients, according to Claire Hewat, executive director of the Dietitians Association
of Australia. What concerns dietitians most is the trans fats that come from the
manufacturing process. Oils containing trans fats are still widely used in

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manufacturing products such as biscuits, cakes, buns and pies, as well as for deepfrying some fast foods. Since there is no requirement to label the levels of trans fats
on every food, it is hard to know how much we are consuming. In 2005, Choice, a
leading consumer site in Australia, tested 55 processed foods and found that many
had high levels of trans fats, enough to significantly increase the risk of heart disease
if they were consumed regularly.

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Another concern to be addressed is on the risks posed by trans fats and saturated
fats. The World Health Organisation says that to be healthy, not more than one per
cent of our calories should come from trans fats and we should consume less than
ten per cent of calories from saturated fats daily. The biggest danger point in our

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diets is by far saturated fats. In addition, Claire Hewat is worried that all the hype
surrounding trans fats may result in people losing sight of the real enemy. According
to Claire, it would be the easiest thing in the world to get rid of the trans fats by
switching to palm oil, but that has 50 per cent saturated fats. It is very important not
to focus just on trans fats. Her best advice is to work on reducing the total

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consumption of saturated fats. By doing so, it may help consumers to avoid the risk
of a coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death globally. Studies have shown a
clear association between consumption of trans fats and high levels of LDL. These
studies have indicated that trans fats can promote inflammation and have a role in

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other risk factors for heart disease. A review of the role of trans fats undertaken for
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) found a clear association between
trans fats and LDL, but pointed out that many of the studies did not distinguish
between naturally occurring trans fats and manufactured trans fats. In 2006, another
review of the scientific literature published in the New England Journal of Medicine

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found that a two per cent increase in energy intake from trans fats was associated
with a 23 per cent increase in the risk of a coronary heart disease.
VI

Concern about trans fats is becoming such a high-profile health issue that some
governments are moving to ban them. In 2003, Denmark became the first country to
legislate against trans fats in foods and to ban all products that contain more than

50

two per cent trans fatty acids of total oil or fat. Then, in late 2006, New Yorks Health
Department required all of the citys 20,000 restaurants to phase out any artificial
trans fats, so that by the middle of that year, every serving of food in that city should
have less than 0.5 gramme of trans fats. Meanwhile in Australia, the federal
government has taken a wait-and-see approach. That is partly because the food
industry has been proactive in reducing levels of trans fats on its own accord.

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In Singapore, the Health Promotion Board has been in discussions with food
manufacturers since 2004 about labelling the fat content of products and reducing
the levels of trans fats. Hewat points out that it is easy to use different oils for frying,
but it is not so simple to change the fats used for pastries and biscuits. She believes

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that by saying stop this today, the product that people like to eat will just vanish.
Media and public concerns have also sparked discussions with food industries about
reducing levels of trans fats further and including the amount on product labels.

VIII If a product makes a health claim about its fat content, for example that it is 97 per
cent fat-free or that it is cholesterol-free, it has to list its full fat profile. For every other

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food, including those that are likely to have high-level of trans fats, the only
requirement is to list the amount of total trans fats and saturated fats. The argument
against labelling is that if people focus too much on trans fats, they may end up
limiting important food groups such as meat and dairy. Hewat warns that decision
concerning food supply must not be based on what is happening in countries like the

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United States. However, senior food policy officer, Claire Hughes in Australia
believes consumers have the right to know what they are eating since not every
biscuit will have trans fats. She believes people should be provided with information
on the fat content in food. FSANZ is now proposing to allow food manufacturers to
claim that a product with low trans fatty acids and saturated fats can reduce the risk

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of a heart disease.

IX

Although most governments do not regulate trans fats, non-regulatory measures by

the private sector are in place to help in reducing trans fats. Many fast food
companies including McDonalds, KFC and Burger King have started working
towards such diminution. For instance, in Malaysia and Singapore, there are health

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awareness campaigns to highlight the negative effects of trans fats. The Health
Promotion Board in Singapore also works with food manufacturers to re-formulate
the composition of food products to achieve lower levels of trans fats. Apart from the
governments effort, consumers may also lower the levels of naturally occurring trans
fats by trimming fat from meat and choosing lean cuts. Dr. Peter Clifton, who cowrote The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, opines that one can have lean meat even on
a cholesterol-lowering diet, however, one must ensure not to eat the fat.

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There are various ways for consumers to stay healthy. First, consumers have to steer
clear of manufactured cakes and pastries, particularly chocolate biscuits and
doughnuts, which have the highest levels of saturated fats. Another way of staying
healthy is to eat more fruit and vegetables, as well as choose reduced-fat dairy
products. Takeaways and fast foods can be healthy if wisely chosen.

Adapted from: What is the fuss about Trans Fats?,

Readers Digest, Volume 92: No. 548, November 2008

QUESTION 1
Determine the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage.
a) rigid (line 3)

: ________________________________________________

b) perks up (lines 11-12) : ________________________________________________

c) imperative (line 17)

: ________________________________________________

d) hype (line 31)

: ________________________________________________

e) diminution (line 80)

: ________________________________________________
(5 marks)

QUESTION 2
Identify the stated main idea of paragraph VI.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

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QUESTION 3
Choose the appropriate term from the following given terms in the parentheses (definition,
research finding, explanation, expert opinion, historical fact, expert testimony) to label the
types of supporting details used in the passage.
Supporting Details

a)

The terms saturated and unsaturated refer to the type of

molecules in the fat. (Paragraph I)

b)

Types of
Supporting
Details
_____________

In 2005, Choice, a leading consumer site in Australia, tested 55

processed foods and found that many had high levels of trans
fats, enough to significantly increase the risk of heart disease if
they were consumed regularly. (Paragraph III)

c)

_____________

The World Health Organisation says that to be healthy, not

more than one per cent of our calories should come from trans
fats and we should consume less than ten per cent of calories
from saturated fats. (Paragraph IV)

d)

_____________

In 2003, Denmark became the first ever country to legislate

against trans fat in foods and banning all products that contain
more than two per cent trans fatty acids of total oil or fat in a
food. (Paragraph VI)

_____________
(4 marks)

QUESTION 4
Paragraph VIII discusses mainly on
a) the importance of reducing fat content
b) the need for consumers to know their rights
c) the need for food manufacturers to limit fat content
d) the importance of labelling fat content on food products
(1 mark)

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QUESTION 5
Formulate the main idea of Paragraph IX and provide ONE MAJOR supporting detail to
support the main idea.
a)

Main idea :
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

b)

Major supporting detail :

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

QUESTION 6
Interpret Claire Hewats concern that the hype surrounding trans fats may result in people
losing sight of the real enemy (lines 31-32).
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

QUESTION 7
List two different types of support given by the writer in paragraph V to strengthen his view of
the link between the consumption of trans fats and coronary heart disease. Provide one
example for each type.
a) Type of support :
Example

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

b) Type of support :
Example

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(4 marks)

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QUESTION 8
Study the statements below. Write I for inductive reasoning and D for deductive
reasoning in the boxes provided.

a)

Statements
According to Claire, it would be the easiest thing in the world to
get rid of the trans fats by switching to palm oil, but that has 50
per cent saturated fats. It is very important not to focus just on
trans fats. Her best advice is to work on reducing the total
consumption of saturated fat. By doing so, it may help consumers
to avoid the risk of a coronary heart disease. (Paragraph IV)

b)

Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death globally.

Studies have shown a clear association between consumption of
trans fats and high levels of LDL. These studies have indicated
that trans fats can promote inflammation and have a role in other
risk factors for heart disease. (Paragraph V)

c)

Concern about trans fats is becoming such a high-profile health

issue that some governments are moving to ban them. In 2003,
Denmark became the first country to legislate against trans fats
in foods and to ban all products that contain more than two per
cent trans fatty acids of total oil or fat. Then, in late 2006, New
Yorks Health Department required all of the citys 20,000
restaurants to phase out any artificial trans fats, so that by the
middle of that year, every serving of food in that city should have
less than 0.5 gramme of trans fats.(Paragraph VI)

Types of
Reasoning

(3 marks)
QUESTION 9
Identify two reasons why dietitians are more concerned about trans fats that come from
manufacturing process than those that occur naturally.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

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QUESTION 10
FSANZ is now proposing to allow food manufacturers to claim that a product with low trans
fatty acids and saturated fats can reduce the risk of a heart disease. (lines 74-75).
In your opinion, is such a proposal by FSANZ acceptable? Provide two (2) reasons to justify
your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
(3 marks)
QUESTION 11
Determine the two (2) underlying assumptions based on the following lines by circling the
appropriate responses.
The argument against labelling is that if people focus too much on trans fats, they may end
up limiting important food groups such as meat and dairy. Hewat warns that decision
concerning food supply must not be based on what is happening in countries like the United
States. (lines 67-71 in paragraph VIII).

a) Most Americans are practising a healthier lifestyle by becoming vegans.

b) What happens in the United States cannot necessarily be applied in other countries.
c) People in other countries are not supposed to follow the Americans dietary habits.
d) People have the tendency to follow the trend in the United States in the choices they
make.
(2 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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