Views: 2 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-09-23 Origin: Site
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an "alternative" action guideline to eliminate artificial trans fats from the global food supply chain by 2023. Who director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that his organization's call for governments to adopt "replace" plans to eliminate artificial trans fats completely from food supply chains would be "a major victory in the world's fight against cardiovascular disease." The WHO's "replace" plan includes legislation to stop artificial trans fats.
Speaking at a NEWS conference at the WORLD Health Organization, IFF Secretary-general Johan Rinaldi called on food producers around the world to take swift and effective measures to support the WHO's plan to end artificial trans fats.
Trans fats are common in some snacks, baked goods and fried foods because of their ability to last longer. Using healthy alternatives does not affect taste or cost. The WHO says Denmark is the first country in the world to take measures to limit the use of trans fats. In the 15 years since the measure was introduced, the amount of trans fats in foods produced in Denmark has dropped significantly, and the incidence of cardiovascular disease has declined more than in any other developed country.
Trans fats, also known as trans fatty acids, are found naturally in small amounts in beef, mutton, milk and other products. The main source of artificial trans fat is partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is resistant to high temperature, not easy to go bad, and can be stored for a long time. It is widely used in fried chicken, chips, popcorn, cookies, cakes and other foods.
Artificial trans fats were considered a breakthrough because of their ability to extend the shelf life of fried and baked goods and their low cost. But in recent years a growing number of medical studies have concluded that trans fats have no health benefits and that the less you eat the better.
The biggest health risk of trans fats is that they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other diseases, potentially posing a threat to public health. Who estimates that trans fat intake causes more than half a million deaths from cardiovascular disease worldwide each year.
Regulators in some countries require that trans fats be displayed on food packaging, while others, such as Denmark, are phasing out trans fats. In 2018, the U.S. government required that hydrogenated vegetable oils no longer be allowed in processed foods on the U.S. market unless they were approved.
With the elimination of artificial trans fats and the use of better baking equipment, we can expect to eat healthier and tastier baked bread.