FDA.gov - rule to list trans fats on labels

The Facts About Trans Fats in Foods

In 2003, the FDA published a rule requiring food manufacturers to list on labels the amount of trans fats contained in their foods. Trans fats are created when liquid oils are solidified for products such as margarine. Though they are found in many commonly eaten foods, trans fats have been shown to raise levels of LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and to increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

What does the FDA's trans fats rule mean for consumers? To help sort it out, the agency has created a Web site with helpful background on trans fats and how to use the new labeling to plan a healthful diet.

Included is information on:

* the difference between various types of fats

* sample labels showing where the trans fat numbers are found

* practical tips on how to reduce consumption of trans fats (and other unhealthy fats as well).

Also on the site is a fun "pop quiz" in which you pick the most heart-healthy spread to put on your toast.

Get up to speed on trans fats by going to www.cfsan.fda.gov/ ~dms/transfat.html.

One-Stop Shop for Recalls Info

The federal government plays a major role in ensuring that unsafe products are taken off the market through its various recall programs. In the past, however, it could be difficult to find information not only about recalls, but also about which agency handles what recall. But now, a newly launched Web site makes it possible to locate current government recall information quickly.

With www.recalls.gov, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has created a gateway to seven recall categories: consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, food, medicine, cosmetics, and environmental products. Say you want to know what food products have been recalled in the last month. On the recalls.gov home page, just click on "foods," which will take you to a screen where you can pick either the U.S. Department of Agriculture (for meat, poultry and eggs) or the FDA (for all other food products). Both agencies have lists of current recalls.

Through recalls.gov, you also can report a dangerous product, learn important safety tips, and sign up for e-mail lists to be notified of recalls.

How to Prevent Permanent Hearing Loss

The numbers are staggering: Thirty million Americans are exposed daily to levels of noise high enough to put them at risk of permanent hearing loss. Ten million in this country have already suffered irreversible hearing damage from noise at work, in recreation settings, or at home.

Is it possible to head off this damage before it occurs? Yes, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, through its "Wise Ears" campaign, can show you how.

At www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/wise/, you'll find:

* a gauge for determining how loud is too loud

* resources for educators (videos, classroom activities

* 10 ways to recognize hearing loss

* how to protect your hearing when shooting a gun. The site also links to free brochures and other information on hearing loss, which can be viewed online or ordered in printed form.

Keeping Track of Your Fruits and Veggies

You hear the advice all the time: Eat at least five vegetables and fruits daily. That advice is backed up with compelling evidence that doing so can improve your health and cut the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious diseases.

But how do you get started? The National Cancer Institute says it can be as easy as having juice at breakfast or adding some extra veggies to your next sandwich. On its Eat 5 to 9 a Day Web site (http://5aday.nci.nih.gov) NCI offers a wealth of tips designed to make eating fruits and veggies fun and tasty. The site is loaded with recipes for any meal or snack during the day. It demystifies what a serving size is, and it explains how to boost fruit and veggie consumption in school lunches.

Also on the site is "Rate Your Health Habits," an interactive page that allows you to rate your daily intake of fruits and vegetables and your physical activity to help reach goals for optimum health.