A total of 53 countries had implemented best practice policies to eliminate industrial trans fats from the food supply, benefiting 3.7 billion people, or 46% of the world’s population. This marks a substantial improvement from 2018, when only 6% of the population was protected, says a new report by the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
MAJOR PROGRESS IN POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
The WHO’s ambitious goal to eliminate industrial trans fats by the end of 2023 has seen remarkable progress. In 2018, less than half a billion people were protected by such policies. The rapid increase to 3.7 billion people signifies a major victory for public health.
“Trans fat elimination is attainable, affordable, and life-saving, and WHO remains committed to supporting Member States in their journeys towards this goal,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO.
HEALTH IMPACT OF TRANS FATS
Trans fats, or trans-fatty acids, are known to clog arteries, raising the risk of heart attacks and deaths. Cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of mortality worldwide, are significantly impacted by the intake of industrially produced trans fats. The WHO attributes over 278,000 deaths annually to these harmful substances. The current advancements could potentially save around 183,000 lives each year.
UNEQUAL PROGRESS
Despite the overall progress, the distribution of policy implementation has been uneven. The highest burden remains in the WHO Africa and Western Pacific Regions, where over four billion people are still unprotected from industrial trans fats. The WHO report emphasizes the need for continued efforts and targeted actions in these regions.
GLOBAL EFFORTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Significant strides have been made across all regions towards eliminating industrial trans fats. These harmful fatty acids are commonly found in fried foods, baked goods, vegetable shortening, and margarine.
In 2023 alone, seven countries—Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Philippines, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine—implemented new best practice policies. Additionally, in January 2024, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand received the WHO Validation Certificate for their progress in eliminating industrial trans fats.
REMAINING CHALLENGES
Despite these promising trends, many countries still face challenges in implementing and enforcing trans fat regulations. The WHO report notes that eight additional countries adopting best practice policies could reduce 90% of global deaths associated with industrial trans fats.
“Beyond passing WHO-recommended best practice trans fat policies, ensuring that compliance with these policies is monitored and enforced will be critical to achieve maximized and sustained health benefits of trans fat elimination,” added Dr. Branca.
WHO’S CONTINUED COMMITMENT
The WHO’s new report underscores the organization’s commitment to global trans fat elimination. It calls on all countries to enact and rigorously enforce best practice policies. Additionally, the report urges food manufacturers to eliminate trans fats from their products and supply chains, even in regions where regulations are not yet established.
FUTURE GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Implement best practice policies to eliminate industrial trans fats.
- Ensure robust monitoring and enforcement of these policies.
- Encourage food manufacturers to remove trans fats from all products.
