Feb 12, 2004 18:13 ET

February Is Heart Health Month: Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Announces the Removal of All Products Containing Hydrogenated Oils

Leading National Natural and Organic Market Pre-empts FDA 2006 Labeling Deadline

BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wild Oats Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:OATS) , a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, today announced it has removed all products containing hydrogenated oils from the shelves in all 75 of its Wild Oats stores. With the national focus this month on heart health, the company decided to make this move as a result of research indicating there are long-term health risks associated with the consumption of trans fats, including a direct link to heart disease. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given food manufacturers a 2006 deadline to label the amount of trans fats (solid fats created through hydrogenation) in their products.


Trans-fatty acids are manufactured fats created during a process called hydrogenation, which increases the shelf life of products including stick margarine, fast foods, commercial baked goods (donuts, cookies, crackers), processed foods and fried foods. These fats recently have been proven to cause significant lowering of HDL ("good") cholesterol and a significant increase in LDL ("bad") cholesterol, major clogging of arteries, type 2 diabetes and other health problems. As a result, the National Academy of Sciences has determined that there is no safe level of trans fats in the diet.


Because many people have now come to believe that consumption of artificially hardened fats represents an avoidable health risk and are trying to eliminate them from the diet altogether, Wild Oats now gives its customers the reassurance that they don't have to worry about hydrogenated oils when they purchase food at Wild Oats.


Wild Oats wants to spend this month -- a month that's been nationally dedicated to heart health -- notifying its customers that they don't have to sacrifice their favorite snacks to eliminate hydrogenated oils from their diets. There are delicious, healthier and equally satisfying products made without hydrogenated oils available on every shelf at Wild Oats. Wild Oats has also provided information to its employees so that they have in-depth knowledge about the store's heart-friendly products.


According to Mary C. Mulry, Ph.D, Senior Director of Research, Development and Standards for Wild Oats Markets, Inc., consumers can, on a daily basis, keep their consumption of trans fats low. Here are her tips:


* A product can contain up to 0.5 grams of trans fats and still show a
zero value on the label. For example, a label may show 0% Trans Fat,
while the ingredients panel lists Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil.
Therefore customers should read the ingredients list on every product
they purchase.

* There are safer, delicious, equally satisfying alternatives for
products that contain hydrogenated oils. These products can be found
at Wild Oats stores, which do not carry foods containing hydrogenated
oils.

* When looking for trans fats on a label, the trick is to identify the
hydrogenated oil ingredient listing, rather than looking for the
number of grams contained in the product. Simply seeing it listed as
an ingredient is how you know the product may be harmful to your
health.

* Avoid conventional margarine, shortening and vegetable fats. When in
doubt, reduce intake of all saturated fats.

* Replace saturated and trans fats in your diet with mono- and
polyunsaturated fats contained in products such as soybean, sunflower,
olive, canola and corn oils. These fats do not raise LDL (or "bad")
cholesterol levels.

About Wild Oats

Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic foods markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Company operates 101 natural foods stores in 24 states and British Columbia, Canada. The Company's markets include: Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Henry's Marketplace, Sun Harvest and Capers Community Markets. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.wildoats.com.
Source: Wild Oats Markets, Inc.