Do you like microwave popcorn? Who doesn’t right? Do you think it would taste as good if it didn’t have those unhealthy trans fats? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a ban on trans fats and if the ban goes into effect, many microwave popcorn makers may have to change their products.

According the the Popcorn Board, Americans eat 16 billion quarts of popped popcorn a year. According to the FDA, popcorn also contains some very high amounts of trans fats. The FDA believes that the ban will help save 7,000 lives a year.

ConAgra, the company behind Redenbacher Popcorn took six years to perfect their microwave popcorn with reduced amounts of trans fats.
“We’ve mastered it, and I’m not going to tell you how we did it,” said Pamela Newell, a senior director of product development at ConAgra. It took “a lot of money,” she added.

The problem with eliminating trans fats from snack products such as microwave popcorn is that the trans fats are the source for most of the products flavor. Trans fats are also responsible for the texture and overall taste of the popcorn. Eliminating the trans fats could be taking away the flavor of the popcorn.

Most companies are still reviewing the FDA’s plan to ban trans fats and have not determined how the ban will effect their products and sales. Do you think microwave popcorn should be left how it is or are you willing to sacrifice flavor for a healthier version of the product?

Image from Wikimedia Commons.