Egyptian Food Safety Authority Commits to WHO Trans Fat Guidelines within 12 Months

Following the recent circular warning of the World Health Organization (WHO) that Egypt is among the top 16 countries with the highest proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake yet do not have a best practice policy, the Middle Eastern nation has highlighted that it is implementing changes to reach WHO requirements within 12 months.

‘The Egyptian National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) has published a decree in Egypt’s official gazette which will see manufacturers and importers all limited to 2g TFA per 100g total fat in all food products, to be enforced within 12 months,” NFSA chairman Dr. Tareq El Houby said in a formal statement.  The Degree is expected to bring Egypt up in line with WHO advice and guidelines for trans fats as many types of foods contain trans fats including baked foods, snacks, fried food, creamer, margarines and much more, he added.

Best practice policies in relation to trans fats involve the 2g per 100g limit, limiting industrially produced trans fats in all settings, or mandatory national bans on the production or uses of partially hydrogenated oil as an ingredient in foods.