Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Used By Street Hawkers?

[edwardandtubs]

I stopped eating from those stalls selling pancakes after I saw they use hard, yellow fat from a tub. The only thing I can think it must be is the lethal hydrogenated vegetable oil. Anything else would melt in the heat. I bought a hamburger from a hawker and to my horror she started spreading that stuff on the roll like butter. Am I right in assuming that stuff is hydrogenated vegetable oil?

For more traditional dishes they use a liquid oil which is probably coconut or palm oil. These are not exactly healthy but not so lethal that they're being banned in many countries like hyrodgenated vegetable oil is.

[danieli]

I stopped eating from those stalls selling pancakes after I saw they use hard, yellow fat from a tub. The only thing I can think it must be is the lethal hydrogenated vegetable oil. Anything else would melt in the heat. I bought a hamburger from a hawker and to my horror she started spreading that stuff on the roll like butter. Am I right in assuming that stuff is hydrogenated vegetable oil?

For more traditional dishes they use a liquid oil which is probably coconut or palm oil. These are not exactly healthy but not so lethal that they're being banned in many countries like hyrodgenated vegetable oil is.

Hi,

I was having a meal of guaydiaw at Bang Khen Market the other day when I observed the hawker nearby who sells deep-fryed chicken open the lid of a plastic tub, grabbing indside with his bare hands and hawling some white stuff out whick looked like animal fat or lard and plunged it into the already oil-sizzling wok. The stuff was'nt hard. It was amorph, white and rubber like. Following the description af a hard, yellow fat, it does'nt seem as if it is the same thing you saw. Or may-be. I don't know. Anyhow, if it were animal lard, it would be - althougt not very healthy - better than the hydrogenated vegetable oil. Once upon a time the good old British fish and chips used to be cooked in animal fat, lard or dripping which were far better than the chemical and heat extracted vegetable oil used nowadays. Because the animal fat will take around 30 C degrees more in temperature before it becomes carcinogenic and produces free radicals.

[PhilHarries]

I stopped eating from those stalls selling pancakes after I saw they use hard, yellow fat from a tub. The only thing I can think it must be is the lethal hydrogenated vegetable oil. Anything else would melt in the heat. I bought a hamburger from a hawker and to my horror she started spreading that stuff on the roll like butter. Am I right in assuming that stuff is hydrogenated vegetable oil?

For more traditional dishes they use a liquid oil which is probably coconut or palm oil. These are not exactly healthy but not so lethal that they're being banned in many countries like hyrodgenated vegetable oil is.

You are in Thailand and you buy a HAMBURGER from a street vendor and then you start worrying about the grease they put on the bread roll? A person eating hamburgers worrying about the fat they are cooked in is kind of like an alcoholic worrying about weevils in the barley used in the mash.

Word of advice : If you intend living in Thailand long term either prepare your own food or never, ever, look at how food is prepared and cooked in any restaurant.

[thaitot]

I have seen the same stuff (yellow) used in cooking Roti's

[Gimbo]

Another one from the "scared of everything" brigade.

Try living your life, and stop worrying. Things will be so much better. And if you live in Bangkok, I'd be more worried about the act of breething than whats in my food.

[danieli]

Another one from the "scared of everything" brigade.

Try living your life, and stop worrying. Things will be so much better. And if you live in Bangkok, I'd be more worried about the act of breething than whats in my food.

Aren't you exaggerating a bit! These answers seem of no value to me and not directly related to the initial subject. I am a slim person, and I dit not worry about the street stall food the first year I lived in Thailand until during a yearly health check - I'm 61 - my doctor to my astonishment told me my level of cholesterol in the blood was too high. After a year on cholesterol-lowering pills I have now cured myself by watching out and changing my diet. I also have started cooking a lot my-self and introduced f.ex. canola oil in my cooking and in that of my family. My wife and her family are eating a lot of animal fat and nearly no vegetables and fruit. It's the same picture on the country side in the Ayutthaya Province. And almost every family member over 50 years old suffer from all sorts of diseases related to a high intake of saturated fat and sugar. However, the doctor told me wisely that you can try and change your own diet in Thailand, but don't believe you can change the Thais diet. My Thai family are often enjoying french fries, cookies and Pepsi for breakfast. At least I did not come to Thailand to have this for breakfast. So I stick to my müsli. Even though the Thais usually stick to their habits and customs they are extremely tolerant towards others.

Edited January 19, 2008 by danieli

[edwardandtubs]

The white stuff sounds like animal lard. It's not healthy but it doesn't raise the same health issues that trans fat does.

I've looked at some pics of hydrogenated vegetable oil and that's definitely what the street hawkers are using.

It's nothing to do with being "scared of everything". A balanced diet and regular exercise contributes to one's enjoyment of life. Even an occasional hamburger can form part of a healthy diet. But when a type of fat is so unhealthy it's banned not only in Denmark but even New York City then you do have to question whether you should be eating it.

[PhilHarries]

The white stuff sounds like animal lard. It's not healthy but it doesn't raise the same health issues that trans fat does.

I've looked at some pics of hydrogenated vegetable oil and that's definitely what the street hawkers are using.

It's nothing to do with being "scared of everything". A balanced diet and regular exercise contributes to one's enjoyment of life. Even an occasional hamburger can form part of a healthy diet. But when a type of fat is so unhealthy it's banned not only in Denmark but even New York City then you do have to question whether you should be eating it.

But it's not banned in Thailand so you have to consider that every bit of fried food, whether street vendor or restaurant, may have been cooked in it. Don't think that by going to the upmarket places you'll get away from it as they can be every bit as bad as the street vendors when it comes to health and hygene.

[pampal]

I have seen the same stuff (yellow) used in cooking Roti's

for roti they use ghee

I think in English ghee is called (clarified butter?)

Edited January 19, 2008 by pampal

[Taggart]

In farangland my wife and I have only Canola and Extra Virgin Olive Oils in the kitchen. We won't buy anything else. You also have to check the labels on products like margarine, salad dressings, and mayonnaise to see what oils are being used.

Last year when we were in Thailand on vacation, I took a look at the cooking oil section in the supermarket and was disappointed that I could find only Olive oil, but no Canola. When we go out for a meal, we try and eat as healthy as we can, but it's extremely difficult, doesn't matter where you go.

[edwardandtubs]

But it's not banned in Thailand so you have to consider that every bit of fried food, whether street vendor or restaurant, may have been cooked in it. Don't think that by going to the upmarket places you'll get away from it as they can be every bit as bad as the street vendors when it comes to health and hygene.

That's one of the many things I love about the street vendors. You can take a look at all the ingredients and cooking methods. They generally fry stuff with liquid vegetable oil.

[Khun Jean]

For more traditional dishes they use a liquid oil which is probably coconut or palm oil. These are not exactly healthy but not so lethal that they're being banned in many countries like hyrodgenated vegetable oil is.

Latest research tells us that palm oil is not as bad as previously thought and coconut oil if it is of the right variety (cold pressed virgin) is actually the best oil you can get.

Lethal is a strong word.

In my kitchen i have Sunflower oil, Virgin Cold pressed coconut oil ( i make that myself) and extra virgin olive oil.

I avoid all the other 'greases'. Still overweight but that is because i am a lazy person, cholesterol levels are excellent though.

Edited January 19, 2008 by Khun Jean

[edwardandtubs]

In farangland my wife and I have only Canola and Extra Virgin Olive Oils in the kitchen. We won't buy anything else. You also have to check the labels on products like margarine, salad dressings, and mayonnaise to see what oils are being used.

Last year when we were in Thailand on vacation, I took a look at the cooking oil section in the supermarket and was disappointed that I could find only Olive oil, but no Canola. When we go out for a meal, we try and eat as healthy as we can, but it's extremely difficult, doesn't matter where you go.

It's not called Canola oil outside of North America. In the UK it's called either vegetable oil or rapeseed oil. I don't know if they use it or what they call it in Thailand. The local vegetable oils are palm oil and coconut oil which seem to be most widely used.

[edwardandtubs]

Latest research tells us that palm oil is not as bad as previously thought and coconut oil if it is of the right variety (cold pressed virgin) is actually the best oil you can get.

I also read research that the obsession with not eating saturated fat (which includes animal fat as well as palm oil and coconut oil) was misplaced. I've read quack websites saying coconut oil is some magical cure for everything but haven't seen any convincing research that it's healthier than olive oil.

[Taggart]

From the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation:

"Saturated fat

This can raise the bad LDL cholesterol. Foods high in saturated fat include fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, butter, hard margarines, lard, coconut oil, ghee (clarified butter) vegetable ghee, and palm oil."

--------------------------------------------------

Advisory on tropical oils, from the American Heart Association.

"AHA Recommendation

We advise people to reduce the amount of saturated fat in their diet. One way to do this is to limit your intake of foods containing tropical oils. A diet high in saturated fat tends to raise blood cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease.

What are "tropical oils"?

This term refers to coconut, palm kernel and palm oils. Like all fats and oils, these three oils contain various types of fatty acids. But unlike other plant oils, they contain a lot of saturated fatty acids. Coconut oil contains 92 percent, palm kernel oil has 82 percent and palm oil has 50 percent.

These oils are found mostly in commercial cakes, cookies and salty "snack foods," and need to be eaten in moderation."

[Gimbo]

Well, next time I step into the Hong Nam to relive myself I may slip on a wet spot, fall and split my scull on the concrette floor...or get bitten by a snake. I may have afatal accident while driving my car, or I may choke on my bird flu infected chicken dinner... I choose not to worry about it, and get on with my life. When my time is up, its up. Meanwhile Iæll enjoy myself and my life...thats all I was trying to say in my earlier post. Sorry if it ruffled any feathers

[suegha]

Good point Gimbo! While we should not jump in front of speeding trains, I certainly agree that when your numbers up, it's up! So enjoy every day as if it's your last.

[danieli]

In farangland my wife and I have only Canola and Extra Virgin Olive Oils in the kitchen. We won't buy anything else. You also have to check the labels on products like margarine, salad dressings, and mayonnaise to see what oils are being used.

Last year when we were in Thailand on vacation, I took a look at the cooking oil section in the supermarket and was disappointed that I could find only Olive oil, but no Canola. When we go out for a meal, we try and eat as healthy as we can, but it's extremely difficult, doesn't matter where you go.

It's not called Canola oil outside of North America. In the UK it's called either vegetable oil or rapeseed oil. I don't know if they use it or what they call it in Thailand. The local vegetable oils are palm oil and coconut oil which seem to be most widely used.

According to information on the Internet, Canola oil comes from canola seed. Canola is the name given to a very healthy oil that was developed from rapeseed. But it is not rapeseed oil. Rapeseed itself has some undesirable qualities. Canola oil is as different from rapeseed oil as olive oil is as different from corn oil.

I myself buy canola oil at my local Tops Supermarked, a minor branch at Phaholyothin Road off soi 37. Normally they have got a brand called Crisco produced in Ohio, USA. Tops' price is 150 baht for a bottle containing 946 ml. They also normally have got a brand called Golden Drop produced in Singapore. The price for this brand is 87 baht for 1 litre. I haven't tried the second one yet, but according to the labelling there seems to be no difference in quality. I guess the Villa Markets have got Canola oil as well.

Apart from the benefits of the high contents of omega-3 fatty acids and mono-unsaturated fats in Canola oil, this oil has the capacity of sustaining high temperatures, which is also the characteristics of f.ex. animal lard, ghee (the genuine animal based ghee, and not vegetable extracted ghee, indeed a cheap and unhealthy substitute) and palm oil. That means less chance of smoke and burning of the oil and food and hence production of free radicals, which may lead to cancer and other diseases. Other vegetable oils than Canola may be good for salads and preparing of food at low heat, but not for frying and grilling, the negative thing about them being that they have a relatively low smoking point.

Conclusion: Canola oil is the best allround oil. It is neutral in smell and taste - hasn't got the specific taste and smell of olive oil, which Thais - it's my experience at least - unfortunately dislike. Can be used as in salads as for frying and grilling. If you havn't got Canola oil at hand for frying at high temperatures, use palm oil, aminal ghee or animal lard. Olive oil as well as sunflower oil and other vegetable oils are appropriate for salads, breads, cakes and the like, as well as frying at low temperatures. Avoid transfats (hydrogenised vegetable oils) alltogether and use other oils according to the food preparation mode and the purpose. They all have got their own specific charasteristics and pros and contras. In our kitchen - my Thai wife and mine - we now only use Canola and olive oil, although the olive oil is reserved for my own cooking.

[Ulysses G.]

Conclusion: Canola oil is the best allround oil.

Canola Oil is considered to be scam by most of the health food industry. It comes from rapeseed oil which is a poison.

Here is an example, but see whole article entitled 'Health Foods from He11" http://www.rmhiherbal.org/review/2000-4.html#can for much more:

Canola oil

Because of the public scare over animal fats, sales of vegetable oils of all types increased. It was the established wisdom that those oils high in polyunsaturated fatty acids were especially beneficial (animal fats are high in saturated fatty acids). The obsession with polyunsaturated versus saturated fats led researchers and nutritionists to overlook some of the other features of vegetable oils that we now know are crucial to health, including:

Susceptibility to rancidity;

Ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids and its relevance in inflammatory diseases and immune system function;

Possible presence of irritating or toxic compounds in particular plant oils.

Unlike the case of trans-fatty acids, for which there is massive amount of research data, there is much less documented scientific research on canola oil consumption in humans, specifically. Some sources (unverified) claim that the Canadian government and industry paid the U.S. FDA $50 million dollars to have canola oil placed on the GRAS ("Generally Recognized As Safe") list, which allowed the canola industry to avoid the lengthy and expensive approval process, including medical research on humans. However, experimental rats that were fed canola oil "developed fatty degeneration of the heart, kidney, adrenals, and thyroid gland. On withdrawing the canola oil from their diets, the deposits dissolved but scar tissue remained on all vital organs." [3a]

Edited January 20, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[toptuan]

Good point Gimbo! While we should not jump in front of speeding trains, I certainly agree that when your numbers up, it's up! So enjoy every day as if it's your last.

The serious fallacy of this view is an assumption that "when you're number's up" your candle is immediately snuffed out and that's all there is to it. Dreamer.

Usually diseases related to these types of unhealthy diets turn the last 10-15 years of your life into a living hel_l before the candle goes out. Diabetes, kidney dialysis, hypertension, dizziness, numbness of limbs, serious surgeries, seemingly endless trips to doctors and hospitals, emergency trips in an ambulance, impact upon family members who become caregivers during your slow death or attempted convalescence.

THAT'S what you face if you are irresponsible about your diet and health. Indeed, "enjoying every day as if it's your last" will be an interesting challenge while you are hooked up to the tubes, I.V.'s and oxygen mask. Let's get real.

Edited January 20, 2008 by toptuan

[edwardandtubs]

Canola Oil is considered to be scam by most of the health food industry. It comes from rapeseed oil which is a poison.

Here is an example, but see whole article entitled 'Health Foods from He11" http://www.rmhiherbal.org/review/2000-4.html#can for much more:

The scam is the internet quacks who have spread blatant lies about Canola oil for their own commercial ends. Canola oil is a type of rapeseed oil low in erucid acid. In Europe it's known simply as rapeseed oil. A bottle of rapeseed oil purchased in the UK would be exactly the same as a bottle of Canola oil bought in the US. The name change in North America was probably because rape is not a nice word. It's perfectly safe because it's low in erucid acid and is very healthy because it's low in saturated fat.

[suegha]

Good point Gimbo! While we should not jump in front of speeding trains, I certainly agree that when your numbers up, it's up! So enjoy every day as if it's your last.

The serious fallacy of this view is an assumption that "when you're number's up" your candle is immediately snuffed out and that's all there is to it. Dreamer.

Usually diseases related to these types of unhealthy diets turn the last 10-15 years of your life into a living hel_l before the candle goes out. Diabetes, kidney dialysis, hypertension, dizziness, numbness of limbs, serious surgeries, seemingly endless trips to doctors and hospitals, emergency trips in an ambulance, impact upon family members who become caregivers during your slow death or attempted convalescence.

THAT'S what you face if you are irresponsible about your diet and health. Indeed, "enjoying every day as if it's your last" will be an interesting challenge while you are hooked up to the tubes, I.V.'s and oxygen mask. Let's get real.

Thanks for the top tip totuan! I eat very healthy food, exercise regularly and pay attention to my general health and safety. Many people who do the same get run over by the provebial bus - this is when your number is up. I was not saying you should throw caution to the wind, nor should you worry about the 'occasional' unhealthy treat, as long as it is occasional. Enjoy life without being morbidly obsessed it!

[toptuan]

Good point Gimbo! While we should not jump in front of speeding trains, I certainly agree that when your numbers up, it's up! So enjoy every day as if it's your last.

The serious fallacy of this view is an assumption that "when you're number's up" your candle is immediately snuffed out and that's all there is to it. Dreamer.

Usually diseases related to these types of unhealthy diets turn the last 10-15 years of your life into a living hel_l before the candle goes out. Diabetes, kidney dialysis, hypertension, dizziness, numbness of limbs, serious surgeries, seemingly endless trips to doctors and hospitals, emergency trips in an ambulance, impact upon family members who become caregivers during your slow death or attempted convalescence.

THAT'S what you face if you are irresponsible about your diet and health. Indeed, "enjoying every day as if it's your last" will be an interesting challenge while you are hooked up to the tubes, I.V.'s and oxygen mask. Let's get real.

Thanks for the top tip totuan! I eat very healthy food, exercise regularly and pay attention to my general health and safety. Many people who do the same get run over by the provebial bus - this is when your number is up. I was not saying you should throw caution to the wind, nor should you worry about the 'occasional' unhealthy treat, as long as it is occasional. Enjoy life without being morbidly obsessed it!

Thanks for amplifying your post, Suegha. Couldn't agree more! In fact, there are scientific studies to support the theory that people with positive outlooks on life tend to be healthier physically, and that there's definitely a cause & effect relationship, "psycho" affecting the "somatic."

[pattyboy]

Another one from the "scared of everything" brigade.

Try living your life, and stop worrying. Things will be so much better. And if you live in Bangkok, I'd be more worried about the act of breething than whats in my food.

Do you mean "breathing" or "breeding"? I suppose both can be dangerous in Bangkok. 555

I can't really agree with your advice. To "live it up" now with no regard for one's diet will inevitably lead to a miserable existence plagued with health problems in older years. Much better to be aware of what garbage is going into your body and avoid it when possible.