nd sa Porigl” Cme, and thi] the war dei aud.M awh slwhied.” | Reducing Unhealthy Fats In Soybean Oil (NAPSA)—Conventional breeding and biotechnology techniques are now being edto develop soy- beans that will produce oil con- taining less trans- and saturated fats. This is good newsfor health- conscio consumers whoare con- cerned about trans-fat—a kind of hydrogenated fat that has been found to raise levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol, and may contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease. This new research comespartly in response to new federal guidelines that will require food manu- facturers to disclose the amountof trans-fat on food labels by 2006. “Monsanto researchers are looking at ways to enhance soy- beans so that they are healthier and, in turn, can reducerisks that lead to cardiovascular disease,” said David Stark, Monsanto’s vice to produce a soybean high in oleic acid. This soybean, which also would be low in linolenic acid, would producesoyoil high in levels of healthy monounsaturatedfat. Finally, Monsanto will apply biotechnology to develop a soy- bean that will enable the produc- tion of a trans- and saturated fatfree soy oil, the first natural oil that could makethe claim of being saturated fat-free. The companyis also research- president of global indtry part- ing other quality improvement traits foced on delivering bene- these enhanced soybeans will provide economic and environmental is researching an oilseed crop that could produce a vegetable oil nerships. “It is our hope that benefits for growers, and healthier agricultural solutions for con- sumers who are concerned about their intake of unhealthy fats.” Specifically, Monsanto is applying conventional breeding tech- niques to produce a soybean low in linolenic acid. The process of hydro- genation reduces the amount of linolenic acid in soy oil and creates trans-fatty acids. This soybean would produce a soy oil that reduces the need for hydrogenation, and, in turn, could help reduce fits to consumers. For example, it enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Typically found in fish oil, omega3 fatty acids have been shown to play a part in keeping cholesterol levels low and reducing blood pressure. “Monsanto is committed to developing products that benefit growers, and to providing new products that deliver tangible benefits to consumers, including enhanced nutrition,” Stark said. Monsanto Companyis a leading trans-fats in many foods and even global provider of technologybased solutions and agricultural The companyis also applying conventional breeding techniques more, visit www.monsanto.com. eliminate trans-fats in some. products that improve farm pro- ductivity and food quality. To learn
