Turkey Acted Ahead of the EU on Trans Fat Regulation

Trans fat restrictions in food products came into force in the European Union three months after Turkey implemented them. Turkey, which has successfully applied World Health Organization criteria, is recognized as one of the world's best examples. MÜMSAD General Coordinator and Food Engineer Ebru Akdağ emphasized that the implementation preceded the European Union by three months as a joint success of the industry, which had prepared the infrastructure in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry that enacted the legal regulation: "While some Western European countries have their own regulations, high percentages of trans fats can still be found in many products in Eastern Europe. According to the World Health Organization's latest report, 58 countries that comply with the organization's 2023 target are restricting industrial trans fat use, while more than 100 countries still need to take measures to reduce trans fats in food products," he said. Highlighting that Turkey transitioned to trans-fat-free margarine production through a voluntary initiative launched 13 years ago under MÜMSAD's leadership, Ebru Akdağ continued: "With this voluntary initiative, Turkey was 11 years ahead of the United States, 13 years ahead of Canada and 14 years ahead of the EU, achieving the World Health Organization's 2023 target 16 years early. As of 31 December 2020, with the regulation prepared by our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the trans fat ratio in all food products reached the safe level indicated by the World Health Organization. This regulation coming into force in our country three months before the EU is one of the most important examples of our country's fight against trans fat."