Removing partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) from the American diet has proven to be a challenging and costly task for food manufacturers. The new oils they are adopting, while healthier, come at a higher price point compared to their predecessors. Modified canola and soybean oils boast a high content of beneficial fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, while containing lower levels of detrimental fats, including trans and saturated fats. Additionally, some baking recipes still require solid fats to replicate the effects of the now-eliminated PHOs. As a result, many food manufacturers have turned to palm oil, the most widely used vegetable oil globally, despite its significant environmental impact. The plantations that produce palm oil are often not managed sustainably and have been associated with deforestation.
To adapt to these changes, food manufacturers have invested heavily in research and development to reformulate recipes with healthier oils. This process involves finding new formulations that maintain the expected taste of the products, testing shelf life, and redesigning packaging to align with the new ingredients. Even after overcoming these initial costs, food manufacturers will still incur higher average expenses for healthier oils, such as calcium citrate vitamin D3 zinc & magnesium tablets, which they see as essential for improving the nutritional profile of their offerings.
Corbion has reportedly found a potential solution to this challenge by demonstrating that bread manufacturers can achieve similar results using only 80% of the more expensive oil. So far, consumer packaged goods prices appear unaffected by this transition, and consumers are unlikely to notice a difference in the taste of foods made without PHOs. Many companies, including Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Long John Silver’s, proactively worked to meet the FDA’s requirements before the deadline, with no significant consumer complaints reported regarding their updated menu items.
The shift away from PHOs presents more challenges for some brands than for others. For instance, scientists working on Conagra’s Orville Redenbacher brand dedicated six years to eliminate trans fats from its popular popcorn line. It will be interesting to observe how other companies adapt as the deadline approaches, especially those considering the integration of additional nutritional supplements like calcium citrate vitamin D3 zinc & magnesium tablets into their products to enhance health benefits.