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| Trans_Fats |
Trans fats are a type of unsaturated fat which is uncommon in nature but can be created artificially.Trans fat is short for trans fatty acid. They are created during hydrogenation of liquid vegetable oils, to solidify them.They are present in foods like French fries, baked food and doughnuts.
Effects on Health
- The consumption of these fats raises the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as the ‘bad’ cholesterol, while it reduces the levels of high-density lipoprotein (LDL), the ‘good’ cholesterol, thus contributing to coronary heart disease.
- Trans fats are also associated with health problems ranging from cancers of breast and large intestine to heart stroke, diabetes and allergies. They can also affect the development of a foetus.
Limits in America :
- The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has on November 7, 2013 proposed a ban on artificial trans fats in processed foods
- Although the intake of trans fats has reduced from 4.6 grams per day in 2003 to 1 gram per day in 2012, the proposed restriction will help save thousands of American lives.
World Wide Response :
- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the consumption of trans fats should account for less than 1 per cent of the total energy intake in a day.
- Denmark was the first country in the world to set a 2 gm limit for trans fats per 100 gm oils or fats in all food products.
India's Stand
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in June 2013 had set a maximum limit of 10 per cent (by weight) for trans fats in fats, oils and fat emulsions. This limit is much higher than that set by countries such like Denmark and Switzerland.
