- The Foods safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put forward new norms for trans-fat free status. According to the norms, bakeries, sweet shops and other food outlets would be able to use a government trans-fat free logo for their healthier food offerings.
- Food establishments can display “Trans Fat Free” logo in their outlets and on their food products in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
- The regulations specify that trans-fat free claim can be made for foods which contain less than 0.2 gm trans-fat per 100gm /100ml.
- Trans-fat are made by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. It is used to increase the shelf life of foods. They are present in hydrogenated fats such as margarine and bakery shortenings, used in preparation of bakery products
- The WHO estimates that consumption of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) high in trans-fat leads to more than 5lakh deaths annually due to cardiovascular disease.
- WHO guidelines recommend a maximum one percent total energy intake from all trans-fat and intake of saturated fat not exceeding 10% of total energy intake
- The WHO has set a goal of eliminating industrially produced Trans-fats by 2023. In 2018, WHO had launched REPLACE- a comprehensive plan to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fat from the global food supply by 2023.
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
