Our closest local grocery store is undergoing a huge green renovation to become LEED certified, which has forward-thinking urbanites abuzz comparing notes about the newly uncovered, polished original concrete floor, the lack of VOCs as walls are painted, and the brand new fresh tortilla machine!

So Georgia, Hova and I took a family outing to see what was new and green among the ever-changing construction site (we earn double points for shopping during the renovation!). We stood agog as the store, once functional but depressing, with dropped ceilings and grayish fluorescent light, spread before us in a vast, naturally lit marketplace of wonders. Wheels of cheese, an olive bar, a fresh sushi train, fresh and best of Portland bakery offerings. And samples galore! We nibbled our way over to the fresh tortillas: they even have whole wheat! I was delighted. And then…

I sometimes wish I could help myself, but I have trained my hands to flip over packages and my eyes to scan the ingredients.

“Oh NO!” I wailed.
“What’s the matter, mommy?” Georgia asked.
“Hydrogenated oil! This is terrible!”
Hova sighed, “I guess no fresh tortillas for us.”
“WHY would they put hy-dro-ge-na-ted oil in tortillas?” Georgia mused, in her best grown-up impersonation.
I launched into the reasons, but by then she and Hova had moved to the bakery samples.

So I’ll tell you, in case you don’t know. Hydrogenated oils, whether they say "partially" or not, are what enable many chemically delicious baked goods to stay on the shelves for a long time without going rancid. Hydrogenation makes the oil more stable, but much less healthful. Also known as trans fats, they are terrible for your heart, both lowering your good cholesterol and raising your bad cholesterol. They are bad enough in junk food, but they are also being used to nefarious effect in supposedly healthful foods, like the whole wheat tortillas. And the worst thing is, due to USDA food labeling guidelines, a product can claim zero trans fats per serving, while still containing partially hydrogenated oil. Eat several servings per day and you’re up to a dangerous level of trans fats while eating something that claims it has zero! What’s a Momster to do?

Write the store and spread the word. I lauded the green store changes, but told them I don’t want hydrogenated oil in my food, and that putting it in whole wheat products especially amounts to greenwashing. All this effort to go green, and their products can’t be trusted? I got a terrific letter back from the store director stating, “I am sure we will have the issue with the tortillas from others, so maybe we can source another type so customers have the choice.” And I keep asking at the counter, though I know change will take awhile, just so they know I’m watching.

Last week in a rush I grabbed the same take-and-bake whole grain baguette I've bought dozens of times, got it home and looked at the new packaging. “Zero grams trans fat!* *per serving” Back to the email campaign…