Staff Reporter :
Instead of severe health hazardous, the TFA or trans fat made foods are still selling in the markets unabatedly.
Experts are crying for trans fat free food for the people to respect a law passed in this regard.
Sources said, TFA or trans fat is a dietary fat that can lead to multiple health conditions. Intake of TFA with food increases low density lipoprotein (LDL) dubbed as ‘bad cholesterol’ in the bloodstream, and simultaneously lowers the high density lipoprotein (HDL) or ‘good cholesterol’ in blood. Industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFA) or trans fat is an unwanted food element toxic for human health and is responsible for increased risks of heart diseases and related premature deaths.
ABM Zubair, Executive Director of research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) told The New Nation, “We want trans fat free safe food for everyone. Trans fat control regulations need to be implemented
at the earliest possible for the development of public health.” Excessive TFA deposits bad cholesterol in the arteries and blocks the blood flow in the body, resulting in increased risks of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, dementia, and cognitive impairment. Moreover, TFA is also responsible for anger, mental stress, aggression, irritability, annoyance, and even risks of depression among teenagers.
It has been estimated that intake of trans fat-laden food took the toll of 12,000 deaths from heart diseases in Bangladesh in 2019.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on nations to eliminate industrially produced trans-fat from the global food supply chain by 2023. Following the target set by WHO, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has notified the “Controlling Trans Fatty Acids in Foodstuffs Regulations, 2021” in the government gazette on 29 November last year.
According to this law, foodstuff with trans fat contents exceeding the limit of 2pc will be penalized under the Safe Food Act with the sentence of maximum three years of imprisonment, or fine of BDT three to six lakh, or both.
BFSA Member (Public Health and Nutrition) and Chief of Technical Committee on Controlling Trans Fat, Monzur Morshed Ahmed said, “After December 31, 2022, use of excessive TFA will be prohibited. The Minister of Food, at a meeting held on December 6 last, instructed us to implement the newly formulated regulation within the set timeline.
The prime source of industrially produced TFA in food partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) popularly known in the country as dalda or bonospoti-ghee. Generally, PHO or dalda is used in preparation of bakery products, processed foods, deep fried snacks and fast food as well as for preparing various foods at hotels and restaurants.
Earlier, on February 2, the National Food Safety Day was observed throughout the country convened by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) with this year’s theme: “Principle of good health is safe food and hygiene.”
