In 2006 the FDA began new regulations that required a line for trans fat on nutrition facts labels causing food manufacturers to race to reduce or eliminate partially hydrogenated oil from their pie crusts, microwave popcorns, frozen french fries and other foods. Why are trans fats on the FDA’s bad side? Well it’s because trans fat raises your LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, and lowers HDL, the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart disease. Most companies complied with the new regulations, but unfortunately, not all companies got the memo.

There are still a few products on supermarket shelves containing unsafe levels of trans fat. The American Heart Association recommends limiting trans fat intake to no more than 2 grams per day, which is about as much as you would get from the naturally occurring trans fat in milk and meat. However foods like Pillsbury’s Grands Buttermilk Biscuits contain 3.5 grams of trans fat per biscuit and Pop Secret Premium Popcorn, Butter (Natural and Artificial Flavor) and Old Fashioned Kettle Corn (Sweet & Salty) have a potentially deadly 5 grams of trans fat per serving. And these are only two of many examples of hidden trans fat.

Since you obviously can’t trust companies to protect your health, the only way to make sure your diet contains little to no trans fat is to diligently read the product labels of everything you buy. If you spy partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredients list, put the package down and run for the hills. Your heart will thank you later.