Monsanto Provides Trans Fat Solution with New VistiveSoybeans

Monsanto Provides Trans Fat Solution with New VistiveSoybeans

ALLEMAN, IowaMonsanto(www.monsanto.com) released a new, low-linolenic soybean produced throughconventional breeding that will reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids (transfats) in processed soybean oil, while maintaining performance parity withleading soybean varieties.

Vistive soybeans, which will have the Roundup Ready®trait, contain less than 3 percent linolenic acid, compared to 8 percent fortraditional soybeans, resulting in a more stable soybean oil with a betterflavor profile and less need for hydrogenation. Because soybeans with lesslinolenic acid reduce or eliminate the need for partial hydrogenation, transfats in processed soybean oil can be reduced or eliminated.

Trans fats are created in the partial hydrogenation process,which is used to increase shelf life and flavor stability in fried foods, bakedgoods, snack products and other processed foods. Trans fats are linked to heartdisease, because they lower HDL (good) cholesterol while raising LDL (bad)cholesterol.