The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new report last Monday (1/23) where it states that five billion people worldwide are still vulnerable to trans fat consumption, even with the elimination target for 2023.
Industrially produced trans fat is often found in packaged and frozen foods, cooking oils and ready-to-eat spreads. Intake of the substance is responsible for at least 500,000 premature deaths from coronary artery disease (CAD) each year worldwide.
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In a statement, WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus said trans fat has no known benefit. Quite the contrary: it poses enormous health risks.
“Eliminating trans fat is cost-effective and has enormous health benefits. Simply put, it is a toxic chemical that kills and should have no place in food. It’s time to get rid of it once and for all, ”she says.
The report mentions that 43 countries have already implemented measures to eliminate the substance, including Brazil. A growing number of middle-income nations are also implementing or adopting new benchmarks, such as Argentina, India, Paraguay, Ukraine. Bangladesh and Philippines.
However, nine of the 16 countries with the highest rate of death from trans fat-related CAD have yet to take any steps to eliminate the substance: Egypt, Iran, Australia, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and South Korea.
The WHO also recommends that the government’s priority is not only the adoption of public policies, but also monitoring measures and encouraging food manufacturers to eliminate trans fat.
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