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 According
to WHO, trans-fat intake is responsible for over
500,000 deaths from coronary heart disease each year
globally. / A.M. Costa Rica wire services photo
WHO welcomes industry action to align with global trans-fat elimination targets |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The World Health Organization, WHO, welcomes the commitment by the International Food and Beverage Alliance, IFBA, to align with the WHO target to eliminate industrially produced trans- fat from the global food supply by 2023. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with IFBA representatives, including chief executive officers from several of the 12 companies comprising the alliance, to discuss actions to take to eliminate industrial trans-fats, and reduce salt, sugar and saturated fats in processed foods. The meeting also stressed the value of regulatory action on labelling, marketing and called industry to full adherence to the WHO Code of marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. “The commitment made by IFBA is in line with WHO’s target to eliminate industrial trans-fat from the global food supply by 2023,” Dr. Tedros said. “WHO will be monitoring the next steps to be taken by companies to help ensure the commitment is realized.” Of particular note was the decision to by IFBA members to ensure that the amount of industrial trans-fat , ITFA, in their products does not exceed 2 g of iTFA per 100 g fat/oil globally by 2023. This is in line with the WHO’s objective and recommendations of its replace action package, which was developed and launched in 2018. “Eliminating industrially-produced trans-fat is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save lives and create a healthier food supply,” added Dr Tedros. In line with the REPLACE initiative, WHO has called on all food producers and oil and fat manufacturers, not only IFBA members, to commit to elimination of industrial trans-fat from the global food supply. REPLACE provides six strategic actions to ensure the prompt, complete, and sustained elimination of industrially-produced trans-fats from the food supply: -Review dietary sources of industrially-produced trans fats and the landscape for required policy change. -Promote the replacement of industrially-produced trans-fats with healthier fats and oils. -Legislate or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fats. -Assess and monitor trans-fats content in the food supply and changes in trans-fat consumption in the population. -Create awareness of the negative health impact of trans fats among policy makers, producers, suppliers, and the public. -Enforce compliance of policies and regulations. There are two main sources for trans-fats: natural sources (in the dairy products and meat of ruminants such as cows and sheep) and industrially-produced sources (partially hydrogenated oils). Partially hydrogenated oils were first introduced into the food supply in the early 20th century as a replacement for butter, and became more popular in the 1950s through 1970s with the discovery of the negative health impacts of saturated fatty acids. Partially hydrogenated oils are primarily used for deep frying and as an ingredient in baked goods; they can be replaced in both. WHO recommends that the total trans-fat intake be limited to less than 1% of total energy intake, which translates to less than 2.2 g/day with a 2,000-calorie diet. Trans-fats increase levels of LDL-cholesterol, a well-accepted biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk, and decreases levels of HDL-cholesterol, which carry away cholesterol from arteries and transport it to the liver, that secretes it into the bile. Diets high in trans-fat increase heart disease risk by 21% and deaths by 28%. Replacing trans-fats with unsaturated fatty acids decreases the risk of heart disease, in part, by ameliorating the negative effects of trans-fats on blood lipids. In addition, there are indications that trans-fat may increase inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. According to WHO, trans-fat intake is responsible for over 500,000 deaths from coronary heart disease each year globally. The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ------------- Should Costa Rica apply the rule to the prohibition of trans-fat in foods? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com |
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