Zinda AirWrap – Why we are proud to be UK’s only completely Trans Fat Free Wrap
It has always been our mission at Zinda Foods to address a need in the food-to-go category to create a product that is lower in carbohydrates, has no trans fats, no palm oil & absolutely no preservatives.
However, we were confused to find 0% trans fat labelled on the front of most wheat-flour tortilla packs but when we flipped over the pack and looked at the ingredients we saw that they included “partially hydrogenised oils”, “mono & di-glycerides of fatty acids and emulsifiers” or “shortening agents” which are very much derivatives of the trans fat family!
Basically ALL commercial wheat flour tortillas contain trans fats, however, if the quantity is below half a gram then it’s legal to label them as 0% trans fats. A remarkably confusing, and one could say misleading, labelling system. As much for us as a manufacturer and as it is for shoppers.
So where does that leave us…..
· As a manufacturer, our Zinda AirWraps have no form of trans fats – not a drop! Not in the base, nor in the fillings.
· As a consumer, we are well aware that trans fats are known as a dangerous food additive contributing to heart disease, strokes, liver dysfunction, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimers, or even recently links to infertility in women. And so trying to limit the intake of trans fats is natural.
But many manufacturers often feel tempted to use trans fats, as they prolong shelf life and prevent ingredients from separating when put together.
Denmark was the first country to outlaw industrially-produced trans fats in 2003. Since then Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, New York City and California have all followed suit. The United States and Canada are set to introduce nationwide bans on partially hydrogenated oils – the main source of artificial trans fat, this year.
A UK ban has not been met by Government support, which has preferred to allow food companies to reduce the trans fat content of their foods on a voluntary basis.
However, as a health-conscious food-to-go manufacturer, we have opted out. We say NO to trans fats or any of their derivatives as we are well aware of the dangers of consuming trans fat in any quantity. We also have no palm oil in our wraps too.