Remove Trans-fatty Acids from Indian food by 2021 Itself

NEW DELHI:
The government should revisit its 2022 deadline to eliminate artery-clogging trans-fatty acids from Indian food, a major factor for spike in cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and type-II diabetes, and ensure that the objective is achieved a year earlier to drastically reduce the incidence of heart diseases among the Indians, a leading consumer body has demanded.

In a memorandum to Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi-based Consumer VOICE (Voluntary Organisation in Interest of Consumer Education) said Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) should prepone the 2022 deadline set for the elimination of trans-fatty acids (TFA) or trans-fats from Indian food to 2021.

As per the Draft Notifications of FSSAI, limit of trans-fats in the fats / oils will be not more than 3% by weight on and from January 01, 2021 and not more than 2% by weight on and from January 01, 2022.

Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating officer of Consumer-VOICE that works under “Jago Grahak Jago” programme of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, said trans-fats in Indian food are responsible for health risks like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type-II diabetes and obesities. “To safeguard health of consumers, trans-fat should be eliminated from Indian food as soon as possible. The momentum against trans-fats is gaining across the world. Therefore, we are demanding immediate notification by FSSAI to make Indian food free from trans-fatty acids by 2021,” he stressed.

Globally, trans-fat intake results in more than 500,000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease every year. In India, more than 77,000 deaths annually are attributed to trans-fats consumption, which is highest in the world.

TFA can be found both naturally and artificially in foods. While natural trans-fats, present in very small amounts in certain animal products and whole milk, are not considered harmful, but industrially-produced artificial trans-fats, which are done through adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, lead to increase in bad cholesterol (LDL) and lowering of good cholesterol (HDL). These trans-fats are largely found in vanaspati oil, margarine, bakery shortenings, and in baked and fried foods.

Sanyal said Consumer VOICE has also submitted an eight-point charter of demands to Dr. Harsh Vardhan to draw his attention to the issue and take a decision urgently. These include immediate notification of The Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Additives) Regulations, 2011 with amendment made for trans-fats limits and oils and an earliest notification of Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations 2019.

Further, The Food Safety and Standards (Food Product and standards and Additives) Regulations, 2011 should include 2% limit on trans-fats for fats, oils and “all food products”. Also, the current regulation of 5% limit should be made measurable with regular surveillance tests while transparency should be ensured in the implementation process by making testing data (5%, 3% and 2% limit) at the national and state levels available in the public domain.

Another demand in the charter is about introduction of a new logo for trans-fat-free (2%) products and restriction on misleading “No Trans Fats” claim on packaged food products. There should also be strict monitoring of marketing methods and advertisements of packaged food items with all kinds of misleading claims.

Sanyal said there should be strict Implementation at state level, including setting up of the required infrastructure mechanism (labs and technicians), institutional mechanisms and mandatory assessment reports. In addition, efforts should be made for sensitisation and capacity building of state food commissioners and food safety officers on implementation of trans-fats regulations.