Is your coffee creamer the silent killer in your diet? CPSI thinks so, writing a news release stating that
The nutrition label on the powdered Coffee-mate in your office kitchen might list 10 calories and just a half a gram of saturated fat. Those sound like reassuringly low levels of both. But use a more realistic tablespoon-size serving instead of the miserly teaspoon the Food and Drug Administration allows—and unround the rounded down numbers on the label—and you’re looking at 45 calories and three grams of heart-harmful saturated fat. Have three of four servings of your office coffee thusly “creamed” and you’ve stealthily consumed half a day’s saturated fat.
But the liquid version of Coffee-mate—flavored or Original—is worse. Instead of using the coconut and palm kernel oils Nestlé employs in the powdered version, the liquid versions use partially hydrogenated soybean or cottonseed oil. Three mugs of coffee with that (and without Nestlé’s innovative arithmetic) delivers 1.86 grams of saturated fat , not to mention the 2.76 grams of trans fat—which is more than an entire day’s worth of the kind of fat that raises your bad cholesterol and lowers your good cholesterol.
CPSI also released a brochure worth looking at, comparing coffee creamers and listing related nutrition facts.
Interestingly enough, Nestle’s nutrition facts label lists 0g of trans fat per tablespoon, despite the fact “partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil” is listed as the third ingredient. Nestle appears to be following the growing trend for nutrition labels, which they describe on their FAQ pages:
COFFEE-MATE Liquid flavors contain less than 0.5g of trans fat per serving. Although the ingredient statement lists partially hydrogenated oil, the amount is trivial. Therefore, it can be listed as 0 (per FDA guidelines) on the nutritional statement.
Even more alarming is Nestle’s “Concentrate” products, like the French Vanilla Concentrate, which lists .5g saturated fat and 1g trans fat per serving. Assuming the 2tsp serving size is correct, that’s 3g of trans fat per day, just from your coffee!
Personally, I made the switch to using agave and silk when I’m of a mind to drink my coffee with cream and sugar. How about you – after reading about the hidden health cost in using cream in your coffee, will you change your habits?
I was well unaware of the trans fat hazzard. Recently heard that the powdered creamers contain aluminum and can cause other health issues.
I agree with this article and want to know if there is a coffee creamer on the market WITHOUT ANY trans fat, or if anyone has a recipe for their own coffee creamer using half-n-half, stevia and pure vanilla extract??? Please respond by emailing me at diakayv@hotmail.com
Nestle should be made accountable for adding dangerous substances too their products are detrimental to the people. The public should educate themselves and not purchase any products containing hydrogenated oils etc… Nestle seems to add plenty of that to many products. A travesty.
I think its not that.Taking in an adequate amount will not disturb anything.But in excess it may harm!!
Right, the trans fat is not good, but the Soy that is in it is bad, as almost all Soy now is GM and is processed with Hexane, a by product of Gas production. also Soy has a problem of mass bacteria in it. I had a bacteria (Fungus) problem in my mouth for almost two years and it was coming from the Coffee Mate in my coffee.
When I stopped using it the fungus problem went away. I now use Half and Half, and stevia and it is great to have a cup of coffee without the red tongue and mouth sores.
I only use the Half and Half to cut the acid in the coffee and that neutralizes it and makes it more alkaline.
I have been using International Delight liquid creamer, It has whole palm oil and corn surup and some other things I thought was better than Carnation, but I’m still concerned about the other stuff.
Me and my husband have been using sugar leaf for a while now after reading about it on this site and think its great! Now i can’t drink my coffee without it! i love the fact that its great tasting too
I’m grateful for you because of this fantastic information. You truly did make my day :