2020年5月11日（月）
In recently proposed amendments
Some studies have also pointed to the relation of TFAs to insulin sensitivity and Type 2 diabetes, inflammation, atherosclerosis, obesity, aggressive and hyperactive behaviour and even cases of infertility in women. It is critically important to regulate trans-fat consumption from a young age because once the damage is done, it is irreversible.
Taking advantage of this, foods products in India could continue to have high levels of TFA after the regulation goes into effect, minimising the public health benefits of this policy intervention. In recently proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, the regulator has taken up a phased approach where the industry has to bring down the composition of TFAs to three per cent by weight by January 1, 2021, from the current allowed limit to five per cent and finally a year later to a global target of two per cent by weight.Regulating the industry is one means of bringing in change but the behavioural change of consumers, who refuse to compromise with the taste of their food and opt for healthier options, is another target subject needing undivided attention. Watch out for trans-fats to achieve a happy marriage between nutrition and taste.Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (PHVOs), popularly used as bakery shortenings and frying oils, are considered the main source of trans-fats, especially in a country like India where love for deep-fried food overpowers health concerns.On another note, while FSSAI is the nodal agency at the national level, no regulations can become successful without active involvement and dedicated efforts by individual states and, moreover, the cities. The “Eat Right Movement” with the tag line of “Aaj se Thoda Kam (Today onwards, a little less)” launched in July 2018, the media campaign “Heart Attach Rewind” broadcasted in 17 languages in November and the Swasth Bharat Yatra over a duration of 104 days were all aimed to target the audience of all age groups and regions of India. The proposed regulation has a big loophole as it only applies a TFA limit to fats and oils in pure form and fails to set the limit for fats and oils in all foods. Thelong shelf life and low cost of PHVOs are two major factors making it favourite of the food industry, compromising with the health of consumers. It’s time, FSSAI, states and consumers come together and work for a “trans-fat free India”. The efforts and ambitions of FSSAI are commendable in designing policies towards the safety of consumers.
Aligning with the targets of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which call for the global elimination of industrially produced trans-fat by 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI), has fixed the target to bring down TFAs in fats and oils to not more than 2 per cent by weight by January 1, 2022, which is a year before the target fixed by WHO.India with a population of 1. It is estimated that a two per cent increase in energy intake from trans-fat is associated with a 23 per cent increase in risk of heart disease, resulting in CVD as a common cause of mortality amongst all age groups.
The elimination of trans-fats from India needs a targeted approach where the policies should be designed and implemented hand-in-hand with simultaneous attention to a multisectoral approach to eliminate trans-fat from the entire food chain and not just oils and fats, as proposed in the present regulations.George Cheriyan is director, However, the regulator needs to check for gaps and make the necessary rectifications immediately.3 billion cannot afford to lose its human capital and potential demographic dividend to the presence of a killer like trans-fat in our food supply chain. Apart from formally registered PHVO industries, there is also a dire need to check on unregistered entities which supply low cost, fake and harmful Vanaspati oil to informal food markets on the streets of India. As of now, the FSSAI also does not have any data on compliance and is in the process of testing products to see if the industry has adhered to the regulation.
Taking advantage of this, foods products in India could continue to have high levels of TFA after the regulation goes into effect, minimising the public health benefits of this policy intervention. In recently proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, the regulator has taken up a phased approach where the industry has to bring down the composition of TFAs to three per cent by weight by January 1, 2021, from the current allowed limit to five per cent and finally a year later to a global target of two per cent by weight.Regulating the industry is one means of bringing in change but the behavioural change of consumers, who refuse to compromise with the taste of their food and opt for healthier options, is another target subject needing undivided attention. Watch out for trans-fats to achieve a happy marriage between nutrition and taste.Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (PHVOs), popularly used as bakery shortenings and frying oils, are considered the main source of trans-fats, especially in a country like India where love for deep-fried food overpowers health concerns.On another note, while FSSAI is the nodal agency at the national level, no regulations can become successful without active involvement and dedicated efforts by individual states and, moreover, the cities. The “Eat Right Movement” with the tag line of “Aaj se Thoda Kam (Today onwards, a little less)” launched in July 2018, the media campaign “Heart Attach Rewind” broadcasted in 17 languages in November and the Swasth Bharat Yatra over a duration of 104 days were all aimed to target the audience of all age groups and regions of India. The proposed regulation has a big loophole as it only applies a TFA limit to fats and oils in pure form and fails to set the limit for fats and oils in all foods. Thelong shelf life and low cost of PHVOs are two major factors making it favourite of the food industry, compromising with the health of consumers. It’s time, FSSAI, states and consumers come together and work for a “trans-fat free India”. The efforts and ambitions of FSSAI are commendable in designing policies towards the safety of consumers.
Aligning with the targets of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which call for the global elimination of industrially produced trans-fat by 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI), has fixed the target to bring down TFAs in fats and oils to not more than 2 per cent by weight by January 1, 2022, which is a year before the target fixed by WHO.India with a population of 1. It is estimated that a two per cent increase in energy intake from trans-fat is associated with a 23 per cent increase in risk of heart disease, resulting in CVD as a common cause of mortality amongst all age groups.
The elimination of trans-fats from India needs a targeted approach where the policies should be designed and implemented hand-in-hand with simultaneous attention to a multisectoral approach to eliminate trans-fat from the entire food chain and not just oils and fats, as proposed in the present regulations.George Cheriyan is director, However, the regulator needs to check for gaps and make the necessary rectifications immediately.3 billion cannot afford to lose its human capital and potential demographic dividend to the presence of a killer like trans-fat in our food supply chain. Apart from formally registered PHVO industries, there is also a dire need to check on unregistered entities which supply low cost, fake and harmful Vanaspati oil to informal food markets on the streets of India. As of now, the FSSAI also does not have any data on compliance and is in the process of testing products to see if the industry has adhered to the regulation.
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