Ensuring trans-fat limiting food is important

Business Desk :
There is no alternative to ensuring food standards to safeguard public health. The risk of various non-communicable diseases including heart disease is growing increasingly in Bangladesh due to excessive amount of trans fat in food, which is alarming. Although the government has passed the “Controlling Trans-Fatty Acid in Foodstuffs Regulation 2021” to ensure trans-fat-free food, no progress has been noticed so far in terms of its implementation. Speedy implementation of the trans-fat limiting regulation is required to safeguard public health. Speakers highlighted this information at a webinar titled “Trans-fat in food and Heart Disease Risk: Way Forward”, organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) recently on the occasion of World Food Safety Day. “Food Standards Save Lives” is the theme for World Food Safety Day this year.
The main source of trans fat is Partially Hydrogenated Oil (PHO), which is also known as Dalda or Banaspati Ghee. Generally, PHO or dalda is used in preparing baked foods, processed foods, and fried snacks, as well as in food preparation by restaurants and street food vendors. Globally, almost 500,000 people die every year due to trans fat-induced heart diseases.
Professor Dr. Md Abdul Alim, Member (Food Industry & Production), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority said, “Immediate action must be taken to implement the trans-fat limiting regulation and protect people from trans fat-induced diseases.”