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As our customers strive to respond to the fast-changing
demands of their markets, it has become increasingly necessary
for us to meet their needs by developing customized,
highly functional products.
Many customer demands are inspired by health trends.
Our expertise has enabled us to maintain high functionality
while reducing the majority of industrially produced trans fats,
believed to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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the intake of trans fatty acids should be kept at an
absolute minimum as any intake of trans unsaturated fatty
acids is related to an increase of LDL (the bad cholesterol)
in the blood.
the intake of saturated fatty acids should be limited to a
maximum of 10 percent of the energy intake because
of its increasing effect on total cholesterol compared to
unsaturated fatty acids.
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demands, either through reduced cost of raw materials
or of processing costs. This is driven by a highly competitive
market and retailers continuing to challenge food
manufacturers.
Sustainable growth
Sustainable growth is a cornerstone of our company
program The AAK Way and essential to our vision of being
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us, sustainable growth is about our responsibility towards
all of our key stakeholders – the local communities where
we operate, our global customers, employees, investors,
and suppliers. The foundation of our model for sustainable
growth is the ten principles of the UN Global Compact, UN’s
Sustainable Development Goals, and our policies and codes.
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Customers, Our Suppliers, Our Planet, Our People, and
Our Neighbours, where we continuously set and deliver on
ambitious objectives and benchmarks for our performance,
internally and externally.
The interaction with customers is based on sound
business ethics and a deep understanding of our responsibility
for safeguarding customer brands. As a supplier of
ingredients for some of the world’s best-known brands, we
recognize our role and our customers’ expectations and see
these as key elements in the execution of The AAK Way.
What is fat and
why do we need it?
Fat is essential to life. The many types are divided into four
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Saturated fat is found in animal products such as butter,
cream, milk, meat and vegetable oils from tropical plants, such
as coconut oil and palm oil. Saturated fats are characterized
by their ability to remain solid at room temperature.
Monounsaturated fat is found in almonds, olive oil, rapeseed
oil and other vegetable oils. Monounsaturated fat is suitable for
cooking, being more heat-stable than polyunsaturated fat.
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salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, and vegetable oils.
Omega-3 and omega-6 are examples of polyunsaturated fats.
Trans fats are a particular form of unsaturated fats. They
occur naturally in milk and fat from ruminants, but are also
formed when vegetable fat is partially hydrogenated.
Fat is part of all the cells in the body. Our bodies
need fat to produce hormones and other important
substances.
Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. That means
that the body’s ability to absorb these vitamins is
dependent on the presence of fat.
One third of our daily energy requirements must
be met by calories from fat. For adults, this means
a daily fat intake of 60–90 grams, each gram
containing nine calories. Carbohydrates and
proteins contain four calories per gram.
Saturated fats and trans fats are believed to
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cholesterol) in the blood, while unsaturated fats
have a positive effect on blood cholesterol.