Latest from Food Politics: Industry-funded study of the week: dairy trans fats

I learned about this one from a press release: Natural trans fats in dairy do not raise heart disease risk. Trans fats found naturally in dairy foods such as milk, butter and cheese do not increase the risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, a new ...

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By Marion Nestle September 14 2026 Industry-funded study of the week: dairy trans fats I learned about this one from a press release: Natural trans fats in dairy do not raise heart disease risk. Trans fats found naturally in dairy foods such as milk, butter and cheese do not increase the risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, a new study has found. Who, I wondered, could possibly have paid for this study? Bingo! This research was funded by the National Dairy Council (USA). Several authors work for or receive funding from dairy interbranch or industry organisations. I could see why the dairy industry would fund something like this. Ruminants—cattle and dairy cows—naturally hydrogenate unsaturated fatty acids and convert them to trans fats, the bad kind that raise the risk of heart disease. Meat and dairy producers would love to be able to show that naturally hydrogenated trans fats are healthier than those that are artificially hydrogenated.  Hence this study. The study:  Gayet-Boyer, C., Tenenhaus-Aziza, F., Torres-Gonzalez, M., Givens, D.I., & Schweitzer, C. (2026). Trans fatty acids from dairy foods do not affect risk of cardiometabolic diseases: Systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic review of prospective cohort studies. Nutrition Research, 150, 33–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2026.03.009 Comment: Would independent scientists who demonstrated the harm of artificial trans fats find something different with ruminant trans fats?  I’d like to see those studies. The post Industry-funded study of the week: dairy trans fats appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts Industry-funded study of the week: avocados again Industry-funded study of the week: dog food Industry-funded study of the week: Ashwagandha supplements   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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Latest from Food Politics: What are the top food brands?

The industry newsletter, FoodNavigator, reports the top  international Big Food companies. The full list is here. Nestlé (no relation) is the clear winner. Among the top 10, only Danone and Tyson report lower sales in 2026 than in 2025.  I can only ...

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By Marion Nestle September 11 2026 What are the top food brands? The industry newsletter, FoodNavigator, reports the top  international Big Food companies. The full list is here. Nestlé (no relation) is the clear winner. Among the top 10, only Danone and Tyson report lower sales in 2026 than in 2025. I can only speculate about the reasons, but am guessing problems in the beef supply and reduced consumer demand as factors for Tyson, and maybe the infant formula recalls affected Danone? It’s interesting that only four of these brands are in the U.S.  Actually, only three U.S. companies are involved since both Lay’s and Doritos are owned by PepsiCo.  Two companies are Swiss and two are Chinese. Of special interest: Both Yili and Mengniu sell dairy products: milk, yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.  But almost all Chinese people have problems digesting lactose. When I was in Beijing in 2019, I was told that the Chinese government wants its people to consume these foods in the belief that dairy products promote growth in children’s height. If this list just looked at the U.S., Walmart would head the list. The post What are the top food brands? appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts Big Food vs. The People: lawsuits against public health measures Our current investment system does not work for food companies or us A national scandal: millions of U.S. workers rely on Medicaid and SNAP   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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