Fatty acids, the new 2 per cent rule
country in the world to introduce restrictions on the use of
industrially produced trans fatty acids. The move follows an
extensive review of all current knowledge on the impact of these
trans fatty acids on health.
From the beginning of June this year Denmark will become the first country in the world to introduce restrictions on the use of industrially produced trans fatty acids. The move follows an extensive review of all current knowledge on the impact of trans fatty acids on health.
Over a number of years, the Danish Nutrition Council reviewed all available research on these potentially harmful fatty acids, concluding that to a large extent they are responsible for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Trans fatty acids are also believed to have an impact on the weight of the foetus and the development of geriatric diabetes (Type 2 diabetes), reports the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
So persuasive was the evidence, the Danish government has introduced much tougher restrictions on the use of industrially produced trans fatty acids.
"The information that has now been documented about the harmful effects of trans fatty acids means that Denmark finds it necessary to introduce regulations of the content of trans fatty acids in our foods.
It is my hope that we will soon see EU regulation in this field. The next step should be common low EU limit values for trans fatty acids," said Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Mariann Fischer Boel.
From 1 June 2003, oils and fat will be forbidden on the Danish market if these contain trans fatty acids exceeding 2 per cent. From 31 December 2003, the restriction will also apply to oils and fats in processed foods. The new limit values will apply to both Danish and foreign manufactured products.
Although for the moment standing alone in the European arena, it is arguably only a question of time before other European countries follow Denmark. And despite the fact that the European intake of trans fatty acids is much lower than 10 years ago it is still an open question if the intake should be regulated by law and how it should be labelled.
The issue of trans fatty acids is a heated one, with consumer organisations on both sides of the Atlantic pushing for tougher legislations. Today the food industry is debating technical issues to remove or replace trans fatty acids in food ingredients and foods. So how long before Europe, as desired by the Danish minister Mariann Fischer Boel, sets new tighter trans fatty acid legislation ?
