1/2/2014

US regulator seeks to ban trans fats in processed food

world americas

US regulator seeks to ban trans fats in processed food

WASHINGTON The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed banning artificial trans fats in processed food such as cookies to frozen pizza, citing the risk of heart disease.
BY - 09 NOVEMBER

WASHINGTON The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed banning artificial trans fats in processed food such as cookies to frozen pizza, citing the risk of heart disease. Partially hydrogenated oils, the primary dietary source of the fats, have been shown to raise bad cholesterol. Reducing the use of trans fats could prevent 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths from heart disease a year, the FDA said on Thursday. While consumption of potentially harmful artificial trans fat has declined over the last two decades in the US, current intake remains a significant public health concern, said FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. The proposed ban was welcomed by public health advocates. Artificial trans fat is a uniquely powerful promoter of heart disease. (The) announcement will hasten its eventual disappearance from the food supply, said Dr Michael Jacobson, Executive Director of the advocacy group Centre for Science in the Public Interest. In Asia, home to the worlds biggest palm oil producers Indonesia and Malaysia, industry officials said exports of the tropical product will rise if the FDA proposal is approved. Palm oil exports to the US have grown over the years as they are a substitute for trans fat, traders said. In the US, they use close to three million tonnes of oil to convert into fatty acids and, if
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1/2/2014

US regulator seeks to ban trans fats in processed food

they have to replace it, palm oil takes over that market to a large extent, said one Singapore-based edible oil trader. It will be good news for Indonesias palm oil exports and bad news for other vegetable oils which have lower melting points, said Mr Derom Bangun, Chairman of Indonesian Palm Oil Board. Our palm oil exports could double to 40,000 tonnes a year. The FDAs proposal is not the first public effort to ban trans fats. New York City banned the use of trans fats in restaurants, including for deep-frying, and many restaurants and fast food chains, including McDonalds, have eliminated their use. Some European countries have also taken steps. Denmark, Switzerland and Iceland regulate the sale of many types of food containing trans fats. Products that still contain trans fats include some varieties of crackers, refrigerated dough, coffee creamers and ready-to-use frosting, among others. Some products will be harder to reformulate than others, FDA officials said. We know that technically this is not an insoluble problem, Ms Hamburg said, adding that the use of trans fats has declined dramatically since 2006, when the agency required that trans fat levels be disclosed on package labels. According to the US Grocery Manufacturers Association, food manufacturers have voluntarily cut the amounts of trans fats in their products by more than 73 per cent since 2005, in part by reformulating products. The FDA emphasised that the ruling, which is open to public comment for 60 days before a phase-out timetable is determined, was preliminary. But Ms Hamburg signalled that the draft rule might be made final. Life has many uncertainties, but we are on a clear track, she said. If the proposal becomes final, partially hydrogenated oils would be considered food additives and would not be allowed in food unless authorised by health regulators. The ruling would not affect trans fats that occur naturally in small amounts in certain meat and dairy products. AGENCIES

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