vanaspati

/ vəˈnæspətɪ /

noun

1. a hydrogenated vegetable fat commonly used in India as a substitute for butter

Word History and Origins

Origin of vanaspati¹

C20: the Sanskrit name of a forest plant, from vana forest + pati lord

Example Sentences

In India, trans fats often take the form of vanaspati, an inexpensive cooking oil that is sometimes used repeatedly by restaurants and street vendors.

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Researchers say the process of reheating vanaspati, which is made from palm oil, renders it even more lethal, and likely contributes to soaring rates of heart disease among South Asians.

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Until now, efforts by the Indian government to reduce the use of vanaspati have been stymied by food producers.

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Trans fats are more common in eastern Europe and particularly in countries like India, where they are in vanaspati, a type of vegetable ghee.

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