Nearly half the world’s population is now protected from the harm of trans fats by strict regulations, but the WHO is urging lagging countries to step up their efforts.
• Read also: WHO refutes Israel’s accusations of collusion with Hamas
• Read also: In Europe, 30 times more cases of measles in 2023 than in 2022
Nearly half the world’s population is now protected from the harm of trans fats by strict regulations, but the WHO is urging lagging countries to step up their efforts.
The World Health Organization has failed to meet its goal of eradicating trans fatty acids from foods by 2023, even though they cause 500,000 premature deaths each year.
It pushed it back to 2025, but now, 53 countries covering 46% of the world’s population are implementing good practices, compared to 11 countries and 6% in 2018 when the UN organization launched its campaign.
It is estimated that the adoption by all of these regulatory policies would save around 183,000 lives per year.
“Trans fatty acids have no known health benefits, but they pose enormous risks,” recalled WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“We are very pleased that so many countries have introduced policies banning or limiting trans fatty acids in foods.”
He urged other countries to follow their example and called for continued dialogue with the food industry.
Trans fatty acids increase levels of LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”), which causes blocked arteries and heart attacks and leads to death from heart disease.
Most trans fatty acids come from artificial and industrially produced partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, and these are used in many baked goods, frying oils, fried foods and hardened fats, such as margarine and vegetable ghee, points out WHO on its website.
These oils are inexpensive and extend the shelf life of processed foods.
The WHO recommends either limiting industrial trans fatty acids to 2 grams per 100 grams of fat in all foods or a mandatory nationwide ban on the production or use of partially hydrogenated oils.
Harmful and useless
On Monday, Dr Tedros awarded the first ever WHO certificates recognizing progress made in the fight against the scourge.
Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Thailand were thus distinguished.
To be eligible, countries must have implemented best practices and then ensure their sustainability through rigorous monitoring systems.
They will have to submit updated data every three years to hope to maintain the distinction.
Danish Ambassador to Geneva Ib Petersen said that the fight against trans fatty acids has reduced coronary heart disease by 11% in his country.
“It is the most financially disadvantaged groups who will benefit the most,” he said at the ceremony.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide.
An estimated 17.9 million people died from these diseases in 2019, 85% of which were due to heart attacks and strokes.
Getting rid of trans fats is considered a simple way to reduce their number.
Their elimination “is economically, politically and technically feasible and saves lives at virtually no cost to governments or consumers,” said Tom Frieden, president of the nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives, which works in partnership with WHO on this subject.
“This harmful compound is useless and no one misses it when it is eliminated,” said Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) network in the United States.
He warned countries that were reluctant to implement good practices that they risked becoming “dumping grounds” for trans fatty acids.