Fatty acid (FA) composition and contents of trans unsaturated FA in hydrogenated vegetable oils and blended fats from Pakistan

This study presents the FA composition and trans FA (TFA) contents of different hydrogenated vegetable oils and blended fats marketed in Pakistan. Thirty-four vanaspati (vegetable ghee), 11 shortenings, and 11 margarines were analyzed. The contents of saturated FA, cis monounsaturated FA, and cis PUFA were in the following ranges: vanaspati 27.8-49.5, 22.2-27.5, 9.3-13.1%; vegetable shortenings 37.1-55.5, 15.8-36.0, 2.7-7.0%; and margarines 44.2-55.8, 21.7-39.9, 2.9-20.5%, respectively. Results showed significantly higher amounts of TFA in vanaspati samples, from 14.2 to 34.3%. Shortenings contained TFA proportions of 7.3-31.7%. The contents of TFA in hard-type margarines were in the range of 1.6-23.1%, whereas soft margarines contained less than 4.1% TFA.