Food ingredient · Fat
Partially hydrogenated oil
Oil hardened by partial hydrogenation, the main source of industrial trans fat. The FDA determined it is no longer generally recognized as safe.
- Industrial fat
- Added oil or fat
- Industrial trans fat source
- Ultra-processing marker
- Expert review pending
Concern level
Banned or revoked by a major regulator, or classified by IARC as Group 1 or 2A at relevant exposure. The concern level sets how many points partially hydrogenated oil costs on a product’s receipt.
What the evidence says
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Industrial trans fatRegulatory
Industrial trans fat raises LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk. The FDA determined in 2015 that PHOs are no longer GRAS and revoked remaining uses in 2023; the EU limits industrial trans fat to 2 g per 100 g of fat. [1][2][3][4]
Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.
Rules around the world
| Where | Status | Details | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Authorization revoked | No longer generally recognized as safe; manufacturers could not add PHOs to most foods after June 18, 2018. Remaining references revoked in 2023. | Jun 18, 2018 | [2] |
| European Union | Restricted | Industrial trans fat limited to 2 g per 100 g of fat in food for consumers. | Apr 2, 2021 | [3] |
| Canada | Banned | Prohibited in all foods since September 17, 2018 (List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods). | Sep 17, 2018 | [5] |
“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.
Popular products that list partially hydrogenated oil
20 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list partially hydrogenated oil. The 12 most scanned:
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Cheddar Flavor with Other Natural Flavors Rice Crisps Quaker Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Thin Mints Girl Scouts · 9 oz Score 0 out of 100 Bad -
Ramen Noodle Soup Creamy Chicken Flavor Maruchan · 3 oz Score 8 out of 100 Bad -
mini Nilla Wafers Nilla · 11 oz Score 4 out of 100 Bad -
Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix Krusteaz · 384 gr Score 1 out of 100 Bad - Fine cinnamon donuts Country Kitchen · 12 oz/340.5 g Score 8 out of 100 Bad
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Premium Original Saltine Crackers Nabisco · 3 lb/48 oz/1.36 kg Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Microwave Popcorn Kroger · 18 oz Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Cheddar bay biscuit mix Continental Mills Inc. Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Flour Tortillas La Banderita Homestyle · 60 g Score 23 out of 100 Poor -
Sour Punch Bites Sour Punch · 9 oz Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Coffee Creamer Great Value · 35.3 oz/1 kg Score 21 out of 100 Poor
Diets and allergens
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.
Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (32)
- pho
- partially hydrogenated fat
- partially hydrogenated oil
- partially hydrogenated corn
- partially hydrogenated oils
- partially hydrogenated palm
- partially hydrogenated canola
- partially hydrogenated coconut
- partially hydrogenated soybean
- partially hydrogenated corn oil
- partially hydrogenated palm oil
- partially hydrogenated rapeseed
- partially hydrogenated sunflower
- partially hydrogenated vegetable
- partially hydrogenated canola oil
- partially hydrogenated cottonseed
- partially hydrogenated coconut oil
- partially hydrogenated palm kernel
- partially hydrogenated soybean oil
- partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil
- partially hydrogenated sunflower oil
- partially hydrogenated vegetable fat
- partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
- partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil
- partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil
- partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening
- partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed
- partially hydrogenated soybean and or cottonseed
- partially hydrogenated cottonseed and soybean oil
- partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil
- partially hydrogenated soybean and or cottonseed oil
- partially hydrogenated soybean oil and cottonseed oil
Sources
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“In 2015, the FDA took the significant step of determining that PHOs, then the major source of artificial trans fat in the food supply, are no longer “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS.”
fda.gov
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Revocation of Uses of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods (88 FR 53764)
“in light of our determination that PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS).”
federalregister.gov
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“Maximum 2 grams per 100 grams of fat in food intended for the final consumer and food intended for supply to retail”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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“WHO’s recommendation for adults is to limit consumption of trans fat to less than 1% of total energy intake, which is less than 2.2 g per day for a 2000-calorie diet.”
who.int
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Notice of Modification: Prohibiting the Use of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods
“On September 17, 2018, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) were banned by adding them to Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and other Adulterating Substances in Foods.”
canada.ca