Question

Major source of trans-fatty acids in the human diet are:
The major dietary sources of trans-fatty acids include baked products, deep fried snacks and ready-to-eat foods.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Milk and milk products
• B. Baked products
• C. Deep fried snacks
• D. Nuts and Oilseeds

Hint:

Quick Tip:
Remember that trans fats are strongly associated with processed, packaged, baked and fried foods, especially when partially hydrogenated oils are used.
For competitive examinations, distinguish naturally occurring trans fats in small quantities from industrial trans fats present in processed foods.
A quick memory aid is: “Processed, baked and fried foods are the major concern.”
Nuts and oilseeds, in contrast, are generally valued as sources of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids rather than trans fats.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Trans-fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids that contain at least one trans double bond.
They may occur naturally in small amounts in foods obtained from ruminant animals, but the major dietary concern is generally associated with industrially produced trans fats.
These fats are commonly formed when liquid vegetable oils undergo partial hydrogenation, which converts some unsaturated fatty acids into more stable semi-solid fats.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
This is a nutrition-based conceptual question, so no mathematical formula is required.
The correct approach is to identify foods that commonly contain industrial trans fats or acquire them through the use of hydrogenated oils and repeated frying.
Baked foods, deep-fried snacks and several ready-to-eat or processed foods can contain significant amounts of trans fats, depending on the fats and oils used during processing.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
1. Baked products:
Many commercially prepared baked products such as biscuits, cakes, pastries and some bakery items may contain trans fats when partially hydrogenated fats or shortening are used.
2. Deep fried snacks:
Deep-fried foods can be important sources of trans fats, particularly when oils containing partially hydrogenated fats are used or when frying oil is subjected to prolonged heating and repeated use.
3. Ready-to-eat foods:
Several processed and ready-to-eat foods may contain trans fats because manufacturers can use hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats to improve texture, stability and shelf life.
4. Milk and milk products:
Milk and dairy products can contain naturally occurring trans fatty acids because they are produced by ruminant animals.
However, they are not generally considered the major dietary sources of industrial trans fats in comparison with processed baked and fried foods.
5. Nuts and oilseeds:
Nuts and oilseeds are naturally rich sources of unsaturated fatty acids and are not considered major sources of trans-fatty acids.
6. Therefore, the appropriate combination is B, C and E:
Baked products, deep fried snacks and ready-to-eat foods are the relevant major dietary sources among the given statements.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Hence, the correct combination is B, C and E only.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D) B, C and E only.