European policymakers call for elimination of TFAs from food chain

Policymakers in Europe are calling for action to restrict industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs) in the food chain. Currently, only three EU member states - Austria, Denmark and Hungary - have passed legislation that restricts TFAs, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that TFAs be virtually eliminated from the food supply.

“We encourage the EU to introduce a regulation mandating an upper limit of industrially produced trans fatty acids in food. TFAs are not safe for use and are associated to a number of negative health consequences which could and should be prevented by better regulation,” said Dr Roberto Bertollini, director of WHO Brussels and Chief Scientist of WHO Europe.

Members of the European Parliament (MEP), representatives of the European Commission and WHO Europe met to debate the impact of TFAs on the health of European citizens.

“Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in Europe, causing 1.9 million deaths every year. We call upon the European Commission to bring forward a proposal for an EU-wide regulation to address this important health issue,” said Mairead McGuinness MEP and Karin Kadenbach MEP, Co-Chairs of the MEP Heart Group.

Trials in Denmark and New York have reportedly shown that TFAs can be replaced with healthier substitutes without increasing the cost or reducing the quality of foods.

“Since the mid-1970s, average intake of TFAs in Europe has dropped considerably. However, average intake masks differences in consumption levels between different countries and social groups. Notably, people from economically disadvantaged groups are likely to consume more TFAs by way of diet consisting of more processed foods. It is important that we act now,” said Professor Steen Stender from the University of Copenhagen.