Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

A 2026 review found no meaningful blood-lipid differences in controlled trials of dairy foods with naturally occurring trans fats, and no association between dairy trans-fat markers and several cardiometabolic outcomes in prospective studies. That is a limited finding about dairy-derived trans fats and the outcomes examined—not evidence that all trans fats are harmless or a reason to ignore public-health advice to limit them.

What the 2026 review found

The paper, “Trans fatty acids from dairy foods do not affect risk of cardiometabolic diseases,” appeared in Nutrition Research, volume 150, pages 33–48, in June 2026; PubMed lists online publication on March 27, 2026. Its authors are Constance Gayet-Boyer, Fanny Tenenhaus-Aziza, Moises Torres-Gonzalez, D. Ian Givens, and Cindy Schweitzer. PubMed’s record identifies the paper and its study framing.

A University of Reading release describes the review’s evidence base as 22 studies: 10 controlled dietary trials and 12 prospective cohort studies. In the trials, researchers compared regular dairy foods with dairy products containing naturally enhanced levels of trans fats. The release reports no meaningful differences in blood-lipid biomarkers. In the cohorts, it reports no association between higher circulating dairy trans-fat levels and heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular death, or type 2 diabetes. The University of Reading release, distributed by ScienceDaily, is the source for those detailed summaries.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

These are null findings: the review did not detect the specified differences or associations. They do not prove zero risk, establish that every dairy food or diet has the same effect, or settle every possible health outcome. The accessible summaries do not provide exact effect estimates, so the results should not be expressed as a quantified reduction or guarantee of safety.

#1 Best Overall
Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale with Nutritional Calculator, Smart App, 11lb
  • 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁: Easily track your intake of up to 19 nutrients, monitor trends, create daily, weekly and monthly nutrition reports and more by connecting to the free Vesync app, Apple Health and Fitbit
  • 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲: Supported by Nutritionix, which holds about 1 million food data. You can add and customize your own food data as needed as well
  • 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹: The food-grade 304 stainless steel weighing platform combines durability and easy-to-clean design
  • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Choose units from oz/lb:oz/g (water & milk)/ml (water & milk), and the Tare button tells the exact weight of your food without container
  • 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: Equipped with 4 high-precision sensors, the scale can weigh your foods between 3 g - 5000 g in 1 g increment

Natural dairy trans fats and industrial trans fats are different sources

Trans fats are unsaturated fatty acids. Some occur naturally in meat and dairy from ruminant animals; industrially produced trans fats have commonly come from partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs). These are different production pathways, but that distinction should not be turned into a claim that natural trans fats are risk-free.

Question Dairy-derived trans fats Industrially produced trans fats
Source Occur naturally in meat and dairy from ruminant animals. WHO Commonly associated with partially hydrogenated oils. WHO
Evidence described here The review examined controlled dietary trials and cohort studies using circulating dairy trans-fat markers; the reported outcomes included blood lipids, heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular death, and type 2 diabetes. University of Reading release The dairy review does not assess industrial trans fats as a whole. WHO describes their public-health risks and recommends eliminating industrially produced trans fats. WHO
What the evidence does not establish No meaningful lipid differences or associations were reported for the specified measures; this is not proof of no risk in all circumstances. University of Reading release The dairy review’s findings do not establish the safety of industrial trans fats.

There is a real difference between the review’s reported results and WHO’s broader guidance. WHO’s January 24, 2024 fact sheet says natural and industrial trans fats are equally harmful, recommends keeping total trans-fat intake below 1% of total energy—less than 2.2 grams a day on a 2,000-calorie diet—and calls for industrially produced trans fats to be eliminated. WHO attributes more than 278,000 deaths each year globally to industrially produced trans-fat intake. Those figures are WHO estimates and recommendations, not results from the dairy review. WHO’s trans fat fact sheet.

Rank #2
Sale
Smart Food Scale with Nutritional Calculator, Free App & Color Display
  • Smart Nutrition Tracking with App: Take the guesswork out of healthy eating with this smart food scale, easy to track calories, protein, carbs, fat, and more using a database of over 1M+ foods. This food scale with nutritional calculator helps simplify meal prep, macro tracking, and weight management for healthier everyday choices.
  • Accurate Weighing for Every Meal: Measure ingredients with confidence using this digital food scale with 1g precision from 2g to 5000g. Switch easily between g, oz, ml (water/milk), lb:oz, and fl oz, while the Tare function ensures accurate results every time. Perfect as a food weight scale or kitchen scale for cooking, baking, coffee, and meal prep.
  • Built for Weight Loss & Meal Prep: Whether you’re counting calories, building muscle, or following a nutrition plan, this food scale for weight loss makes portion control simple. Track daily nutrition through the companion app and gain insights into eating habits.
  • See Nutrition on a Vibrant Color Display: The large color display clearly shows weight, nutrition data, and tracking information for easy reading. Access 50 built-in foods directly on the scale or scan barcodes via the free app for quick logging.
  • Everyday Kitchen Essential: From cooking and baking to coffee, meal prep, and calorie tracking, this versatile digital kitchen food scale adapts to your daily routine. Compact, easy to clean, and simple to use, it’s the ideal scale for food for families, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone looking to eat smarter with a dependable weight scale for food.

What the findings mean for everyday choices

The review does not show that people should increase their intake of butter, cheese, milk, or other dairy foods. It also does not overturn advice to limit total trans fats. The University of Reading release reports trial intakes ranging from 1.3 to 13.2 grams of trans fat per day across the 10 controlled trials; that is a reported range in those trials, not a measure of ordinary dairy consumption or a personal intake target.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Professor Ian Givens, one of the lead authors identified by the University of Reading release, said: “People hear the words ‘trans fats’ and assume the worst, but the trans fats in your morning milk, yogurt, butter or cheese are not the same as the ones from industrial partially hydrogenated fats. This research should give people reassurance that dairy, eaten as part of a balanced diet, is not something to worry about for their heart.” The statement is attributable to the release; the quotation has not been independently checked against a recording or transcript. University of Reading release.

Rank #3
Smart Food Scale with Nutritional Calculator & TFT Display, Soft Black
  • SMART NUTRITION TRACKING: Simply weigh your food to instantly view key nutrition information, including calories, protein, carbs, fat and more. With 50 built-in foods and analysis of 23 nutrients, this smart nutrition scale helps you better understand what’s on your plate and make more informed everyday food choices.
  • APP CONNECTIVITY & PROGRESS TRACKING: Connect the scale to the mobile app to record food and nutrition data, review meal history and track your daily intake over time. This Smart Food Scale with App keeps your nutrition records organized, making it easier to understand eating patterns and stay consistent with your personal nutrition goals.
  • HIGH-PRECISION WEIGHING & TFT COLOR DISPLAY: High-sensitivity sensors deliver precise, reliable measurements for everyday cooking, portioning and meal prep. The clear TFT color display lets you view weight and nutrition information directly on the scale, providing an intuitive experience even when you don’t want to check your phone.
  • WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, MEAL PREP & EVERYDAY COOKING: From calorie and macro tracking to portion control, meal prep, baking and family meals, this digital food scale nutritional calculator supports a wide range of everyday needs. Easily measure ingredients and portions to build more consistent eating habits and simplify daily food preparation.
  • COMPACT DESIGN & SIMPLE OPERATION: Sleek, compact and easy to use, this calorie scale fits neatly on your kitchen countertop and stores easily when not in use. Simply place your food on the smart kitchen scale to measure weight and access nutrition information—an approachable solution for beginners, fitness-focused users and everyday households.

What U.S. rules did—and did not—change

In the United States, the FDA determined in 2015 that PHOs were no longer generally recognized as safe for most food uses. FDA materials describe later compliance dates and a 2023 rule removing outdated PHO references from regulations. This action addressed an industrial source; it did not remove naturally occurring trans fats from meat and dairy. These are U.S.-specific regulatory details, not a description of law in every country. FDA’s trans fat information and FDA’s final determination on partially hydrogenated oils.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How to read the result with appropriate caution

  • It is about a specific exposure. The review concerns trans fats from dairy foods, not all trans fats or all sources of dietary fat.
  • It combines different kinds of evidence. Controlled trials assessed blood-lipid biomarkers; prospective cohorts examined associations between circulating dairy trans-fat markers and selected health outcomes. These designs answer different questions.
  • A null result is not proof of no possible harm. The reported findings apply to the measures and outcomes assessed and do not establish effects for every population or dietary pattern.
  • Author affiliations are relevant context, not a verdict. The paper’s affiliations include dairy-industry organizations as well as the University of Reading. Affiliations alone neither prove bias nor invalidate the findings. PubMed bibliographic record.

The journal record also lists a corrigendum in Nutrition Research, volume 152, in August 2026. Its contents are not described in the available record, so exact results and strong conclusions should be read in light of that correction once its details are available. ScienceDirect journal record.

Best Value
Sale
Food Kitchen Scale with Nutritional Calculator, Tracks 23 Nutrients
  • Take the Guesswork Out of Nutrition: Accurately weigh and track calories, protein, carbs, and fat using the free app with a built-in 1M+ food database. Perfect for managing daily intake, tracking macros, and staying on top of fitness or wellness goals.
  • Smart App Connectivity for Deep Insights: Connect to the app via Bluetooth to instantly view detailed nutrition data for every food you weigh. The app automatically saves your history and analyzes your eating patterns across daily, weekly, and monthly reports, giving you clear insights into your progress
  • Clear & Bright LED Display: The high-contrast LED screen shows weight readings clearly in any lighting condition. Simple and intuitive — just weigh your food, and check all nutrition details directly in the app.
  • Perfect Portion Accuracy: Measure from 2g to 5,000g in precise 1g increments. Choose from 5 units (g, ml water, ml milk, oz, lb:oz) and use the Tare function to exclude container weight for accurate results every time.
  • Designed for Smarter Meal Prep & Health Goals: Ideal for tracking macros, meal prepping, or calorie control. Whether you're cooking at home, blending protein shakes, or monitoring your diet plan, the scale helps you stay consistent and improve your habits with long-term nutrition insights.
Rank #4
Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale, Digital Grams and Ounces, 11lb
  • 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: Supports 5 units (oz/lb:oz/fl'oz/g/mL), tare function, and includes 2 AAA batteries for hassle-free operation
  • 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: Accurately weighs up to 11 lb/5 kg with 1 g increments
  • 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: The small and sleek scale is a perfect fit for most kitchens, occupying little space and easily storable in cabinets
  • 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻: Just wipe down the 304 food-grade stainless steel surfaces to keep clean
  • 𝗟𝗖𝗗 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆: Backlit LCD screen with large fonts for easy reading

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.