NutritionDoc

Products containing corn oil can now claim to be good for your heart - but that does not mean it's OK to slather your supper with Mazola. The US Food and Drug Admin approved a petition for a "qualified health claim" for corn oil by ACH Food Companies, makers of Mazola corn oil, Karo corn syrup and Argo corn starch. To qualify for heart health labeling, products must be low in cholesterol and sat fat. And the FDA approved lanquage is not exactly a ringing endorsement: " Very limited and preliminary scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1 tablespoon of corn oil daily may reduce the risk of heart disease due to the unsaturated fat content in corn oil. FDA concludes that there is little scientific evidence supporting this claim. To achieve the possible benefit, corn oil is to replace a similar amount of sat fat and not increase the total number of calorie you eat in a day." Since all fats and oils contain about 90 calories per tablespoon, simply adding corn oil to your diet will add to your waistline instead of helping your heart.

 

The FDA introduced its four-tiered system for dietary health claims in 2003. Only health benefits on which there is "significant scientific agreement" do not require a qualifying statement. The corn oil claim is based on the lowest level of supporting scientific evidence.

Choose wisely . .  . live well.