Trans fats are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils containing fatty acids. These fats are used extensively in the food industry to prolong the shelf life of processed foods. They also increase the palatability of certain foods and hence are widely used in food industry.

However many studies have conclusively proved that trans fats are not heart healthy. in fact these fats have no safety threshold. That is why researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health have recommended that consumers avoid trans fats.

Earlier this year, New York City said that it would be banning trans fats from its restaurants.

Following this move, the Australian government was mulling imposing curbs on trans fats used in fast food chains in the country. However food industry representatives who met at a forum in Sydney agreed to phase out trans fats from their recipes. Among the companies that attended the forum meeting were McDonald's, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Subway, Hungry Jack's and Pizza Hut.

Federal assistant health minister Christopher Pyne hailed today's agreement as a breakthrough. “There are some companies that have moved to remove all saturated fats, and I think most other companies will follow suit,” he said.

Currently the World Health Organization (WHO) says that a person should consumer no more than 1 per cent trans fats every day. Pyne said trans fats formed 0.6 percent of daily intake in the Australian diet. "While we are doing well, I would still like to get that level down further and the reliance on saturated fats down also," he said. "It is important when we reduce trans fats in our food supply that we do it in the context of a balanced diet."

Heart Foundation communications manager Monique Blunden also welcomed the initiative, "There are healthy alternative oils out there, I would encourage the industry to seek them out," she said.

 

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