PAHO Plans to Remove Trans Fatty Acids from Industrial Food Production

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has agreed to eliminate trans fatty acids (TFAs) from industrial food production by 2025 to reduce cardiovascular disease which is currently the leading cause of death in the Americas.  Previous attempts to eliminate trans fats through voluntary measures were insufficient thus regulatory measures were considered necessary, feasible and effective.  
The PAHO plan proposed three options to eliminate industrial TFAs: (1) a ban on using partially hydrogenated oil; (2) a mandatory limit of 2% on industrially-produced TFAs as a proportion of total fat content in all food products; or (3) a combination of the two measures.  The plan also highlighted the need to adopt policies on food labelling to raise awareness of the harmful effects of TFAs and the health benefits of eliminating them from industrial production.   

At present, trans fats are used in at least 27 of 35 PAHO Member States.  Their presence remains, despite the public health authorities and representatives of food and cooking oil industries signing the Trans-fat Free Americas: Declaration of Rio de Janeiro in 2008.  The organizations agreed to commit to eliminating trans-fatty acids of industrial origin.  Some countries, such as Argentina (2010), Chile (2009), Colombia (2012), Ecuador (2013), United States (2015), Peru (2016) and Uruguay (2017), have limited or removed trans fats since this agreement.  Others such as Brazil and Paraguay are at advanced stage of a similar process, while Bolivia is currently forming trans fat-based regulations.