UPSC Prelims 2011 Q40: Science & Technology – Health & Diseases
A company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans - fats.
What does this campaign signify to the customers?
1. The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils.
2. The food products are not made out of animal fats/oils.
3. The oils used are not likely to damage the cardiovascular health of the consumers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
What a "trans-fat free" claim actually means
Trans-fats form mainly through the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, and are linked to cardiovascular risk.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Not made out of hydrogenated oils | Correct | Trans-fats mostly arise from partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils, so a 'trans-fat free' claim implies the product avoids hydrogenated oils |
| 2. Not made out of animal fats/oils | Incorrect | Animal fats are mainly a saturated-fat issue, a separate category from industrially produced trans-fats; the claim does not signify this |
| 3. Oils used are not likely to damage cardiovascular health | Correct | The entire point of avoiding trans-fats is to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, so this is the direct implication for the customer |
Trans-fat facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main source | Partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils |
| Health link | Raises LDL ('bad') cholesterol, cardiovascular risk |
| Claim's real meaning | Signals no hydrogenated oils AND lower cardiovascular risk — not an animal-fat claim |
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 3 (reduced cardiovascular risk) is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 1 (no hydrogenated oils) is also correct; statement 2's animal-fat claim is not what 'trans-fat free' signifies.
- (c) CORRECT. 'Trans-fat free' signifies no hydrogenated oils (statement 1) and lower cardiovascular risk (statement 3); it says nothing about animal fats specifically.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2's animal-fat claim is not implied by a trans-fat-free label, so 'all three' is wrong.
Key point
'Trans-fat free' signifies: no hydrogenated oils used, AND lower cardiovascular risk — NOT a claim about animal fats/oils, which is a separate (saturated-fat) issue.
Remember
'Trans-fat free' = no hydrogenated oils + lower cardiovascular risk (statements 1 and 3); NOT an animal-fat claim.
Common mistakes
- Assuming 'trans-fat free' also means no animal fat, confusing trans-fat with saturated fat.
- Missing that hydrogenation is the actual mechanism behind trans-fat formation.
- Not connecting the claim to its real purpose: reduced cardiovascular risk.
Exam tip
Trans-fat ≠ animal fat. Trans-fat free means no hydrogenated oils + lower heart risk, not a statement about animal-derived fats.
Sources
- World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization — Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases (WHO Technical Report Series 916, 2003)
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006