GENEVA — 

The World Health Organization reports significant advancements in eliminating industrially produced trans fat worldwide, resulting in nearly half of the world’s population being safeguarded from the detrimental impacts of this hazardous substance.

In a statement on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that five years ago, the organization urged countries and the food industry to remove industrially produced trans fats from the food supply. The results have been remarkable.

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“Currently, 53 nations have adopted effective measures such as restrictions and prohibitions on trans fats, and three additional countries are in the process of doing so. This action has successfully eliminated a significant health hazard for approximately 3.7 billion individuals, which accounts for 46% of the global population.”

Tedros stated that these policies are projected to prevent 183,000 deaths annually. He also noted that just five years ago, only 6% of the global population was shielded from this harmful additive due to comparable policies.

Hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to produce trans fat, resulting in the oil solidifying at room temperature.

Tom Frieden, the president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, stated that it is also present in your body, specifically in your coronary artery. He also mentioned that at one point, it was believed to cause the death of 500,000 individuals annually.

Frieden stated that with nearly half of the world implementing the change, numerous fatalities will be averted in the future. He emphasized the importance of the next two years, acknowledging that the initial goal of eliminating trans fats globally by 2023 has been pushed back to 2025 due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis.

According to published estimates, eliminating trans fat on a global scale could potentially save 17.5 million lives within a span of 25 years. Frieden stated that the progress in reducing trans fat worldwide demonstrates that noncommunicable diseases can be successfully fought against.

He stated that it is crucial because, in regards to noncommunicable diseases, there is a belief that we can define and anticipate them, but we are unable to prevent them. However, the success in eliminating trans fat demonstrates that it is achievable. Furthermore, there are other areas where specific outcomes have been achieved.

Health officials say no amount of trans fat is safe and regard it as the worst type of fat anyone can eat because it has no known nutritional benefits. Trans fat is cheap to make and is found in margarine, palm oil, fried foods, baked products, pastries and some processed foods.

According to the World Health Organization, consuming a large amount of trans fat raises the likelihood of death from any cause by 34% and from coronary heart disease by 28%.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) organized a ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of the initial five nations that have successfully eliminated trans fat from their food sources.

Today, Tedros stated that Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand are the first countries to not only implement policies but also actively monitor and enforce them.

“Kudos to these nations for setting an example and showing what can be achieved. While you are the initial countries to receive validation, you will certainly not be the last,” he stated.

Upon receiving the award, Ib Petersen, the Danish ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, stated that research indicates implementing policies to eliminate trans fats in his country since 2003 has resulted in a noteworthy 11% decrease in deaths caused by coronary disease.

He also stated that the policy has mostly helped those who are financially disadvantaged.

Frieden expressed his desire for other countries to follow the example of these five nations and implement the necessary policies, regulations, and enforcement measures to eliminate trans fat from the world.

“Out of the remaining load, only five nations – China, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia, and Iran – are responsible for approximately 60% of the estimated burden. According to [the speaker], if these five countries were to adopt [the most effective policies], the global burden would decrease by about 85%, prohibiting or eliminating trans fat.”

The WHO states that progress is not consistent and there is still a significant amount of work to be completed. While several low- and middle-income nations are making strides, there is still a considerable distance to cover, particularly in Africa and the western Pacific.

According to Frieden, Africa has the least amount of policy coverage, but there have been instances of leaders in Nigeria and South Africa taking action. South Africa has started the enforcement process, while Ethiopia, Ghana, and Cameroon are currently contemplating implementing regulations in the near future.

According to Frieden, it is important for governments and the food industry to take responsibility and prevent the use of trans fats, as they are not only harmful, but also have the potential to be imposed on individuals if action is not taken while other countries are already banning it.

Source: voanews.com