"Famous Cafe Bread Trans and Saturated Fat Content High"

Consumer Agency, Results of Survey at 20 Locations in Seoul and Gyeonggi

Example of products under investigation. [Photo by Korea Consumer Agency].

Recently, some breads from popular dessert cafes on social networking services (SNS) were found to have high levels of trans fats and saturated fats, indicating a need for improvement.

On the 14th, the Korea Consumer Agency conducted a survey of donuts, cakes, croissants, and other items sold at 20 cafes in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, based on a single serving size of 70g. The results showed an average trans fat content of 0.3g (ranging from 0.1g to 0.6g) and an average saturated fat content of 9g (ranging from 4g to 16g). This is about three times the average trans fat (0.1g) and saturated fat (3g) levels found in breads from franchise bakeries surveyed in 2018.

The trans fat content in one slice of cake (268g) was 1.9g, which is 86% of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended daily intake limit of 2.2g. The saturated fat content was 50g, exceeding the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s daily saturated fat intake guideline of 15g by more than three times. Preservatives (propionic acid) were either undetected or below 0.1g per kg in all products.

The Consumer Agency emphasized the need to reduce trans fat and saturated fat levels in these cafe breads. Excessive intake of trans fats and saturated fats can lead to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Since 2006, when the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety formed a task force to reduce trans fats and mandated labeling of their content, trans fat levels have steadily decreased. However, breads sold at cafes, which are not subject to mandatory nutrition labeling, tend to have relatively high levels of trans fats and saturated fats, necessitating management and improvement.

The Consumer Agency stated, “We plan to request the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to provide education and publicity so that small-scale food service businesses like the surveyed cafes can reduce trans fat and saturated fat in their products and provide accurate information to consumers.” They also recommended that businesses check the trans fat and saturated fat content of raw materials used in baking and refrain from using hydrogenated oils.