When companies stopped using the bad oil (PHOs), more than half of them switched to palm oil — which is high in saturated fat, another type of fat linked to heart disease.
Scientific Claim
Among the 48 products previously containing PHOs that remained on the market after regulation, 52.1% replaced PHOs with palm oil, which contains approximately 50% saturated fatty acids, suggesting a widespread substitution with a nutritionally problematic alternative.
Original Statement
“In the majority (52.1%) of the products assessed in Study II, PHOs were replaced exclusively with tropical oils, ranging from 30% to 100% depending on the food category... palm oil contains around 50% saturated fatty acids.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The claim reports observed substitution patterns from label data — no causal inference is made. The percentage and fat composition are directly stated in the results.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
After a rule banned bad fats called PHOs, 48 food products switched to palm oil instead—and palm oil is also not very healthy because it’s full of saturated fat, just like the old ingredient.