Call to regulate iTFAs in dietary sources

Coalition urges PQSCA to increase food items with mandatory limits

ISLAMABAD:

A coalition of various organisations advocating for healthy dietary habits urged the Pakistan Quality and Standards Control Authority (PSQCA) to set an upward limit of 2 per cent for industrially-produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs) in food items.

The authority had placed the limit on some major food items including banaspati ghee, the collective noted in a statement issued Monday. “However, many food sources still remain uncovered and that is where the challenge lies," it quoted Afshar Iqbal, the coalition’s spokesperson.

It stated that the successful implementation of similar policies in other countries, such as Denmark, where iTFAs were virtually reduced from food products, resulting in a significant decline in heart diseases.

The statement claimed that iTFAs has long been a silent contributor to Pakistan's burgeoning health crisis. According to recent data, according to the statement, an estimated $2.6 billion was spent on diabetes management in Pakistan in 2021.

“If iTFAs are not effectively regulated with other policy actions like reduction in the consumption of sugar and salt in the diet, 62 million Pakistanis are projected to be living with diabetes by 2045,” it continued.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), high iTFA intake is linked to the huge burden of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2023.