A new survey by the American Heart Association (AHA) shows that consumer awareness of 'bad' fats is at an all-time high. The findings reveal that consumers often buy products because they are marked 'trans fat free'. However, findings also show that few consumers have a thorough understanding of trans fats and where they come from.

According to the online survey, 92 percent of consumers are aware of trans fat - a significant jump from 84 percent in 2006. But, only 21 percent could name three food sources of the fats. Similarly, 93 percent of consumers are aware of saturated fat, but only 30 percent could name three food sources.

Fatty Acid Profile of Hazelnuts
More consumers are also recognizing the health implications of these fats. Awareness of the link between trans fat and increased heart disease risk is up to 73 percent, a 10 percent increase from 2006. Awareness of health risks associated with saturated fat is up 4 percent from 2006, reaching 77 percent in 2007.

As consumers eat less of the “bad” fats, they are becoming more aware of “better” fats. This includes monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, according to AHA.

Major sources of monounsaturated fat include olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, avocados, and many seeds and nuts. Hazelnuts, in particular, are an excellent source of monounsaturated fats; they contain more of these heart-healthy fats than any other nut. Major sources of polyunsaturated fat include a number of vegetable oils (soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil), fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and trout) and some nuts and seeds.

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