American Pride Seafoods removes trans fats from its par fried products

08/02/06 As consumer demand grows for healthier, more nutritious food products, American Pride Seafoods has aggressively moved to meet this demand by removing trans fatty acids from its existing par fried products.

The company now par fries its products in non-hydrogenated canola oil, which enables it to eliminate trans fatty acids, or trans fats, in its breaded seafood products while maintaining outstanding flavor and taste, said Margaret Malkoski, director of research and development for American Pride Seafoods.

Trans fatty acids, or trans fats, have been shown to increase the risk of coronary heart disease by increasing the level of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol in the bloodstream and reduce the level of HDL, or "good" cholesterol.

In a new set of dietary guidelines released in 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended that consumers limit the amount of trans fats in their diets as well as increase the consumption of fish to at least twice per week as part of a healthy diet. However, trans fats are found in certain breadings and vegetable oils. By eliminating trans fats from the equation, American Pride has made it easier for consumers to enjoy breaded fish products regularly without worry or guilt, Malkoski said.

Malkoski said American Pride only has one remaining product category, its Bake N Broil line, which uses partially hydrogenated oils such as butter oil. She said the company is aggressively researching ways to eliminate this partially hydrogenated oil and the associated trans fats from the process.

With offices in Greensboro, Ala., and New Bedford, Mass, American Pride Seafoods is a diversified international company and a part of the American Seafoods Group. American Seafoods Group is one of the world's leading companies in the harvesting, at-sea processing, preparation and supply of quality seafood. The company harvests a variety of fish species and processes the catch into a variety of finished products, both on board its fleet of state-of-the-art vessels and at its facilities in Massachusetts and Alabama.

The company produces a diverse range of fillet, surimi, roe and block-cut product offerings, made from Alaska Pollock, cod, sea scallops, and U.S. farm raised catfish. Finished products are sold worldwide through an extensive global distribution and customer support network. From the ocean to the plate, American Seafoods has established a global sourcing, selling, marketing, and distribution network bringing quality seafood to consumers worldwide.

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