Coconut Oil Cure

The cooperation of food processors to provide low-cholesterol and low-saturated fat products for coconut oil cure is absolutely essential. The NHSA ran a similar ad in the Washington Times two or three weeks ago after the Washington Post refused to run it, he said.

The NHSA plans to run the ad in other large newspapers as well to get the attention of officials from the food processors for coconut oil cure, who so far have not responded, Sokolof said. "They sort of tap dance and say we'll change this or we're in the process," he said. "To some degree the weight of the public is coming down on them."

Sokolof, who had a heart attack 22 years ago because of a high cholesterol level, created the nation's first "National Know Your Cholesterol Month" in April, which was recognized by the Congress and President Reagan.

Pepperidge Farm Inc., prompted by what it called "strong consumer concern," has announced plans to remove a coconut oil from its crackers and cookies by next summer. Officials of the Norwalk-based company said the oil would be removed from such products as the popular "Original Goldfish." Coconut oil is claimed to be a saturated fat that raises the cholesterol level.

People who have high levels of cholesterol run a higher risk of a clogging of the arteries that can lead to heart attacks. "We must find oils that will proximate tropical oils in terms of performance in the baking process, flavor, texture, mouth-feel and shelf-life stability," Richard A. Shea, president of Pepperidge Farm, said in a prepared statement issued Wednesday. National Heart Savers, a Nebraska group, has campaigned against products that use tropical oils, such as palm and coconut. Its founder, Phil Sokolof, said he was pleased by Pepperidge Farms' decision to remove coconut oil from more than 50 brands of cookies and crackers.

"Ultimately, Pepperidge Farms will have saved thousands of lives," Sokolof said. "They've got a tough job of reformulating their cookies and crackers." Sokolof said coconut oil contained 100 percent more saturated fat than lard. Coconut and palm oil are popular because they help extend the shelf life of food products, Sokolof said.

Many products advertised as being free of cholesterol contain tropical oils that can help cholesterol form after consumption, he said. Ann Wainright, a Pepperidge Farm spokeswoman, has said her company recently began using 100 percent soybean oil in all its breads.