Curly Sue wrote:
[snip]
> Put away your calculators folks. Someone did the study!
>
> from http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2001/010612.htm
> ****************
> "Recurring rumors that commercial peanut butters contain trans
> fats--which appear to increase risk of cardiovascular disease--have no
> basis in fact, according to an Agricultural Research Service study.
>
> The rumors no doubt started because small amounts of hydrogenated
> vegetable oils are added to commercial peanut butters--at 1 to 2
> percent of total weight--to prevent the peanut oil from separating
> out. And the hydrogenation process can generate the formation of trans
> fatty acids in oils, according to Timothy H. Sanders, who leads
> research at ARS’ Market Quality and Handling Research Unit at Raleigh,
> N.C.
>
> To see if the rumors had any validity, Sanders prepared 11 brands of
> peanut butter, including major store brands and natural brands, for
> analysis by a commercial laboratory. He also sent paste freshly
> prepared from roasted peanuts for comparison. The laboratory found no
> detectable trans fats in any of the samples, with a detection limit of
> 0.01 percent of the sample weight."
> **************************
>
>
> Sue(tm)
> Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

Thanks Sue! This is just the sort of information I was looking for.
I guess it comes down to taste rather than nutrition.

Peggy