Philippines to Eliminate Trans Fat in Food Products by 2023

Last month, the Department of Health issued Administrative Order No. 2021-0039 on the subject National Policy on the Elimination of Industrially Produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA) for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.  The Order aims to provide a policy framework to eliminate industrially-produced TFA in Philippine food supply by 2023. Specifically, it aims to provide guidance to reduce TFA intake among Filipinos to less than 1% of the recommended total energy intake through the following strategies: (1) Regulating pre-packaged food products containing TFA, (2) Enabling the replacement of TFA with alternative oils, fats, and oilseeds, and (3) Increasing awareness of the negative impact of TFA to the public. 

Thus, local food manufacturers are now required to reformulate and remove trans fatty acids from their products, Rodley Desmond Carza, of the Department of Health, health promotions bureau said in a virtual press briefing last week.  Known as the “tobacco of food,” TFA has no known benefit and the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended its limited consumption, he added.  

Other countries have already committed to eliminate TFA and the issuance of the Administrative Order, Carza said, will prevent the possibility of the Philippines becoming a dumping ground for TFA-laced food products.