Abstract

BOLIVAR C, Lorena A  and  MORA G, Olga L. Fatty acids, vitamin E and nutritional labeling of margarines and spreads commercialized in Bogota, Colombia. Rev. Colom. Cardiol. [online]. 2010, vol.17, n.3, pp.106-114. ISSN 0120-5633.

INTRODUCTION: information on the content of fatty acids and vitamins in margarines and spreads locally commercialized in Colombia is scarse. OBJECTIVE: analyze the fatty acids and vitamin E profile in margarines and spreads most commercialized in Bogotá, Colombia and its current nutritional labeling under Resolution 0288 of 2008. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a counting of labels of margarines and spreads most commercialized in chain supermarkets of five localities in Bogotá that included different socio-economical strata, was made. The first seventeen trademarks and three study brand marks were chosen for the study. Five samples by product were taken and analyzed, one by each locality, between August and November 2008. RESULTS: the majority fatty acids were palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids, and four products are sources of trans fatty acids (4.4 g y 6.9 g/ 100g). Vitamin E content varies from 2,3 -39,9 mg/100 g of product. 74.3% to 96.2% of the nutrients mandatory to declare, are actually declared on the label of the products tested. CONCLUSIONS: 91% of margarines and spreads most commercialized in five localities in Bogotá in August 2008 is free of trans fatty acids (<0.5 g / serving) and on average provide 13% of the RDA of vitamin E/serving. Only 40% of the products tested declares in the label all the mandatory nutrients under Resolution 0288 of 2008.

Keywords : margarines; fatty acids; vitamin E; spreads; nutritional labeling.

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