Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
Civil society organizations have urged the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) to introduce laws regulating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs), with the aim of reducing the risks associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). iTFAs, which are commonly found in processed foods such as margarine, vegetable shortening, fried foods, biscuits, and pies, are linked to serious health problems, including clogged arteries, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified iTFAs as harmful substances created by hydrogenating vegetable oils to make them solid. While iTFAs are found in processed foods, they also naturally occur in animal products like meat and dairy from ruminants. The Uganda National Health Consumers Organisation, the International Institute for Legislative Affairs, and the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association are leading the charge, calling on Eala to pass laws to curb the use of iTFAs in the region.
Robinah K. Kaitiritimba, speaking on behalf of the East African TFA Regulation Coalition, expressed concern over the lack of regulations governing industrially produced trans-fatty acids in the region. She emphasized the need for a regional approach to combat diseases like vascular diseases and cancer, which are exacerbated by the consumption of iTFAs. The organizations are working to reduce or eliminate iTFAs in food products in line with WHO recommendations.
The civil society groups are advocating for the inclusion of TFA-specific regulations in the Standardisation, Accreditation, and Conformity Assessment Bill, which is under consideration by Eala. They are also calling for the Council of Ministers to support these regulations at the national level and to provide regular updates to Eala.
“We demand a regional regulation to ban partially hydrogenated oils and limit industrially-produced trans-fatty acids to two percent in food products supplied within the East African Community,” said Kaitiritimba. She added that, due to the multinational nature of iTFAs, a regional regulation is urgently needed.
According to the WHO, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with risk factors including unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, and tobacco and alcohol use. iTFAs are a significant risk factor for NCDs, increasing the likelihood of coronary heart disease by 23 percent for just five grams consumed daily. WHO estimates that iTFAs contribute to over 500,000 deaths globally.
In East Africa, cardiovascular diseases account for a significant portion of deaths from NCDs. In Tanzania, they represent 13 percent of NCD-related deaths, while in Kenya, they make up 25 percent of hospital admissions and 13 percent of hospital deaths. In Uganda, NCDs account for 40 percent of all deaths, with 353,000 annually attributed to cardiovascular diseases.
The WHO recommends that adults limit their consumption of trans-fats to less than one percent of total energy intake, or approximately 2.2 grams per day for a 2,000-calorie diet. However, no East African country has implemented specific legislation, regulation, or policy targeting iTFAs.
The civil society organizations assert that now is the time to take substantial steps to protect citizens from the harmful effects of industrially produced trans-fatty acids. Studies from various countries show that iTFAs can be replaced with healthier oils, and WHO recommends trans-fat elimination as a cost-effective intervention for low- and middle-income nations.
Governments could eliminate the source of seven percent of global cardiovascular disease with a low-cost investment. WHO advises two best-practice strategies: imposing a national limit of 2 grams of industrially produced trans-fat per 100 grams of total fat in foods, and banning the production or use of partially hydrogenated oils in food products.
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