WHO Publishes Countries' Trans Fat Report Card

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its annual report on the elimination of trans fats in the food supply chain. In the report, Turkey stands out among countries that implement WHO criteria most effectively, alongside many EU countries and the United Kingdom, and in fact ahead of them by months. Ebru Akdağ, General Coordinator of the Kitchen Products and Margarine Manufacturers Association (MÜMSAD), noted that the voluntary transition initiated by margarine producers in Turkey in 2007 to trans-fat-free production—considered trans-fat-free because it remains below 1%—facilitated the shift to the 2% trans fat limit that would come into effect on 31 December 2020, and called for increased controls on implementation for public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report in the second year of efforts to eliminate industrial trans fats from the global food supply, announcing annual results. According to the report, industrial trans fat use has been restricted in 58 countries, including Turkey, that meet the WHO's 2023 target. The organization announced that when these new legal regulations are implemented, 3.2 billion people will be protected from the effects of trans fats by the end of 2021. However, more than 100 countries still need to take measures to reduce trans fats in food products. The proposed 2% limit has been enacted in Turkey on 31 December 2020 and will come into effect at the same time as many EU countries and the United Kingdom, and in fact months ahead of them. Before this law, trans fat restriction in Turkey applied only to margarine production and through voluntary initiative. [caption id="attachment_104929" align="aligncenter"] MÜMSAD General Coordinator- Ebru Akdağ[/caption]

'No compromise on inspection and controls'

Evaluating the newly released report and Turkey's roadmap ahead, MÜMSAD General Coordinator Ebru Akdağ stated: "The World Health Organization considers trans fats up to 2% by weight in food products to be safe. According to the new regulations prepared for the first time in our country and to be implemented starting 1 January 2021, the trans fat limit in all foods has been set at 2%, as is common practice in EU countries. As MÜMSAD, since 2007 we have been voluntarily producing trans-fat-free margarine at levels below the legally established limit, at 1%, which is scientifically considered zero. With this regulation, which we support wholeheartedly, the voluntary application that has been made in margarines so far will now apply to all foods with the 2% trans fat limit. However, it will be necessary to monitor whether implementations are truly in compliance with the law. At this point, we believe there should be no compromise on inspection and controls."

Margarine led trans-fat-free production in Turkey

Turkey, highlighted in the report as demonstrating encouraging practices, is noted as meeting WHO's best practice criteria. Akdağ, noting that the architect of Turkey's trans-fat-free production initiative was margarine producers united under the leadership of MÜMSAD, who transitioned to trans-fat-free production voluntarily starting in 2007, even before legislation was enacted, stated: "It is no coincidence that Turkey is being held up as an example. MÜMSAD member margarine producers, following extensive R&D work and major investments beginning in the early 2000s, voluntarily transitioned to trans-fat-free production starting in 2007. This means trans fat content in products is below 1% (typically 0.2–0.5%). Ready-made foods such as biscuits, crackers, chocolate products and waffles produced using these margarines are also trans-fat-free. Since 2008, products taken from the market at different periods have been analyzed in university laboratories, and to date, no product claiming to contain no trans fat has ever been found to contain trans fat above 1%."

Turkey became a success example

Emphasizing that this practice that began with margarine in our country has become law and made significant contributions to the elimination of trans fats from food products, Ebru Akdağ said: "Looking at the world, Turkey with its voluntary implementation has become an example for many other countries. Our country is 11 years ahead of the USA, 13 years ahead of Canada, and 14 years ahead of the EU, and has already achieved the WHO's 2023 target 16 years early. This is a success story rarely seen in the world. From now on, we all have great responsibilities. Everything in our food is listed on the label; trans fat is one of them. We all must pay attention to our choices as consumers."