UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I
Question 40: Science and Technology
A company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans-fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers ?
- 1.The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils.
- 2.The food products are not made out of animal fats/oils.
- 3.The oils used are not likely to damage the cardiovascular health of the consumers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Trans-fats form when liquid vegetable oils are partially hydrogenated to make solid fats such as vanaspati. They raise bad (LDL) cholesterol and lower good (HDL) cholesterol, raising the risk of heart disease. A 'no trans-fat' claim therefore signals that the product is not made from hydrogenated oils and is less likely to damage the heart. It says nothing about animal fats, which are rich in saturated fat and can contain small natural amounts of trans-fat.
- 1. Trans-fats come from partial hydrogenation of oils.
- 2. The claim does not say the products avoid animal fats.
- 3. Avoiding trans-fats lowers the risk to the heart.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.
What you needed to know: The claim does not say the products avoid animal fats.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: Avoiding trans-fats lowers the risk to the heart.
Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Statement 3 on cardiovascular health also follows from the claim.
- (b) Statement 2 is wrong: the claim says nothing about animal fats.
- (c) Right: no hydrogenated oils, and less cardiovascular risk.
- (d) Includes statement 2, which the claim does not signify.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.