Nearly half of the world's population is now protected from the harms of trans fats by strict regulations, but the WHO is urging countries that are lagging behind to step up their efforts.
• Also read: The WHO rejects Israel's allegations of collusion with Hamas
• Also read: There will be 30 times more measles cases in Europe in 2023 than in 2022
Nearly half of the world's population is now protected from the harms of trans fats by strict regulations, but the WHO is urging countries that are lagging behind to step up their efforts.
The World Health Organization has failed to meet its goal of eliminating trans fats from food by 2023, even though they cause 500,000 premature deaths each year.
It has been pushed back to 2025, but now 53 countries, covering 46% of the world's population, are adopting best practices, compared to 11 countries and 6% in 2018, when the UN agency launched its campaign.
It is estimated that the introduction of all of these regulatory measures would save around 183,000 lives annually.
“Trans fatty acids have no known health benefits, but pose enormous risks,” reminded WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“We are very pleased that so many countries have adopted policies that ban or limit trans fats in foods.”
He urged other countries to follow their example and called for continued dialogue with the food industry.
Trans fats increase levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol), which leads to blocked arteries and heart attacks, and leads to death from heart disease.
Most trans fats come from artificial and industrially produced partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and these are used in many baked goods, frying oils, fried foods and hydrogenated fats such as margarine and vegetable ghee, the WHO points out on its website.
These oils are inexpensive and extend the shelf life of processed foods.
The WHO recommends either a limit of industrial trans fats 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 received the first WHO certificates recognizing progress in the fight against the scourge.
Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Thailand received awards.
To be eligible, countries must have implemented best practices and then ensure their sustainability through rigorous monitoring systems.
They must provide updated data every three years to maintain the distinction.
The Danish ambassador to Geneva, Ib Petersen, said that the fight against trans fats had reduced coronary heart disease in his country by 11%.
“It is the most financially disadvantaged groups who will benefit the most,” he said at the ceremony.
Cardiovascular diseases are the most common 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.
Avoiding trans fats is considered an easy way to reduce their number.
Eliminating them “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 with the WHO on this issue.
“This harmful compound is useless and no one will miss it if 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 hesitate to implement good practices risk becoming “landfill sites” for trans fats.