Hinds, Valley Services raise awareness about zero trans fat cooking oil

News & Announcements Hinds, Valley Services raise awareness about zero trans fat cooking oil

02/26/08 Hinds Community College students on the Raymond Campus will learn about the healthier meals available to them in the college cafeteria as part of a special promotion beginning 11 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 28.) outside the north side of the cafeteria.

Valley Services Inc., which is in charge of the student cafeteria, is switching to a zero trans fat oil. To educate students about the change, Valley Services and Ventura Foods, which makes the frying oil used by Valley, are sponsoring a special promotion that includes free Frisbees to students and a raffle for a free iPod.

The promotion includes a live remote with Rock 93.9 and a Ventura Oils hummer in the cafeteria parking lot. Students can also talk to a registered dietitian about healthy meals.

“Everybody loves fried foods of one kind or another,” says Robyn Cranford, Marketing Manager for Valley Services’ Corporate Office. “And with fried food, quality and taste are everything. Now we’ve found a trans fat free oil that’s also free of compromises, for our business and our customers as well. The products from Ventura’s Trans Fat Free Kitchen are giving us the twin benefits of top quality and excellent performance.”

“We want to give our customers healthier choices,” she continues. “And at the same time, we need to be sure that we keep our foods as delicious as always. Ventura’s Trans Fat Free Kitchen is helping us cut the trans fat while still serving up the great fried foods our customers enjoy.”

Trans fats are produced when vegetable oils are commercially hardened into shortenings and margarines. Besides creating a versatile array of products, the process of partially hydrogenating oils increases product stability and shelf life.

Trans fats in foods have become a widespread health concern. An increasing number of studies have shown that dietary trans fats raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and decrease HDL (“good”) cholesterol – two factors that are bad for heart health. Dietary trans fats are also associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Now, Valley Services is making the switch to zero trans frying oil, part of Ventura’s Trans Fat Free Kitchen™. This “one-stop show” kitchen concept includes a complete lineup of zero trans fat products, an extensive selection of on-trend recipes, and a consumer-focused merchandising support program.

Last Updated: 2/27/08