5 billion people globally exposed to toxic trans-fat linked to heart disease: WHO

5 billion people globally exposed to toxic trans-fat linked to heart disease: WHO

Subject: Science and Technology

Section : Health

Context:

The global health body, in 2018, had advocated some best-practice policies for the global eradication of industrially generated trans-fat by 2023. Coverage of these policies has expanded about six-fold since its inception.

Details:

• Report title:  Countdown to 2023 – WHO report on global trans-fat elimination
• Released by: World Health Organisation (WHO)
• Report findings:
  • 43 countries have put best-practice regulations against trans-fat in food, covering 2.8 billion people worldwide.
  • However, despite significant progress, this still exposes five billion people to the devasting health effects of trans fat, making the 2023 target unattainable.
• Transfat: Trans fatty acids (TFAs) or Trans fats are the most harmful type of fats which can have much more adverse effects on a human body than any other dietary constituent.
• These fats are largely produced artificially but a small amount also occurs naturally. Thus in our diet, these may be present as Artificial TFAs and/ or Natural TFAs.
• Artificial TFAs are formed when hydrogen is made to react with the oil to produce fats resembling pure ghee/butter.
• In our diet, the major sources of artificial TFAs are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO)/vanaspati/ margarine while the natural TFAs are present in meats and dairy products, though in small amounts.
• Usage:
  • TFA-containing oils can be preserved longer, they give the food the desired shape and texture and can easily substitute ‘Pure ghee’. These are comparatively far lower in cost and thus add to profit/savings.
  • Industrially produced trans fat is usually found in packaged foods, baked items, cooking oils and spreads.

Harmful effects of trans fats:

• Trans fat has no known benefit
• Accountable for up to 500,000 early deaths from coronary heart disease annually.
• Raises the level of bad LDL cholesterol, an accepted biomarker of cardiovascular diseases.
• Increase the risk of heart disease by 21 per cent and deaths by 28 per cent.

Status of trans fat regulation across globe:

• WHO launched a REPLACE campaign in 2018 for the global-level elimination of trans-fats in industrially produced edible oils by 2023.
• Nine countries — Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and the Republic of Korea — of the 16 nations with the highest estimated percentage of coronary heart disease fatalities attributed to trans-fat consumption do not currently have a best-practices strategy.
• Although most trans-fat elimination regulations have been implemented in higher-income countries, many middle-income nations — including Argentina, Bangladesh, India, Paraguay, the Philippines and Ukraine — are now adopting these regulations.

Policy measures:

• Two best-practice policy options:

1. mandatory national limit of two grams of industrially produced trans-fat per 100 grams of total fat in all foods;
2. mandatory national ban on the production or use of partially hydrogenated oils (a major source of trans fat) as an ingredient in all foods.