WHO recognizes four countries with life-saving trans fat elimination policies

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized Austria, Norway, Oman, and Singapore for their outstanding efforts in eliminating industrially produced trans fats from their national food supplies. These countries have been lauded for adopting best-practice policies backed by robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, significantly contributing to improved public health outcomes.

About Trans fats

• Trans fats—or trans-fatty acids (TFA)—are unsaturated fats that may be either naturally occurring or artificially (industrially) produced. Industrial trans fats are commonly found in processed foods such as biscuits, pies, fried items, margarine, Vanaspati ghee, and vegetable shortening.

• Both industrial and natural trans fats are harmful, with no safe level of consumption, and are known to clog arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease, which account for over 278,000 deaths annually worldwide.

• REPLACE action package: In 2018, WHO launched the REPLACE action package, a strategic roadmap for countries to eliminate industrially produced trans fats from national food systems.

• Best-Practice: WHO recommended best-practice policies include:
  • A mandatory limit of 2 grams of trans fat per 100 grams of total fat in all foods, and/or
  • A ban on the production and use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the main source of industrial trans fats.

• When WHO first issued the global call for action seven years ago, only 11 countries, representing 6% of the global population, had such policies in place. Today, that number has grown to nearly 60 countries, covering 46% of the global population—a significant step toward global trans fat elimination.

(Source: WHO)