The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a milestone report on Trans Fat detailing the progress made in the global effort to eliminate industrially produced fat from food supplies. The report covers the period from 2018 to 2023 and highlights the substantial improvements made in protecting 3.7 billion people, or 46% of the world’s population, from the harmful effects of fat. Despite falling short of the ambitious goal of complete elimination by the end of 2023, significant strides have been made, marking a critical step towards better global health.
Policy Implementation to Address Trans Fat
As of 2023, 53 countries have adopted best practice policies to address industrial trans fat in food. This is a remarkable increase from the mere 6% coverage in 2018, which protected less than half a billion people. The report indicates that these policies have the potential to save approximately 183,000 lives annually.
WHO’s New Policies in 2023
In 2023 alone, seven countries implemented new best practice policies: Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Philippines, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. These additions are part of a broader trend of expanding regulatory measures to improve public health by reducing fat consumption.
WHO Validation and Certification
Countries Achieving Certification
In January 2024, WHO certified five countries for their validated progress in eliminating industrially produced fat: Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. Certification is based on the enactment and enforcement of WHO-recommended policies, demonstrating that effective measures are both attainable and impactful.
Importance of Monitoring and Enforcement
Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO, emphasized the necessity of monitoring and enforcement to ensure sustained health benefits. He stated,
“Beyond passing WHO-recommended best practice fat policies, ensuring that compliance with these policies is monitored and enforced will be critical to achieve maximized and sustained health benefits of trans fat elimination.”
Regional Disparities and Challenges
Uneven Progress
Despite the overall positive trend, progress has been uneven across different regions. More than 4 billion people remain unprotected from fat exposure, with the highest burden concentrated in the WHO African and Western Pacific Regions. This disparity underscores the need for continued efforts and targeted interventions in these areas.
Key Recommendations
The report outlines several recommendations to accelerate the elimination of industrial fat globally:
- All countries should enact best practice policies, particularly those with high estimated burdens of disease due to fat intake.
- Strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance and eligibility for WHO validation.
- Subregional bodies should pass mandatory fat elimination policies.
- Food manufacturers should comply with regulations to increase the use of healthier fats, even in the absence of formal regulations.
Partnership and Strategic Initiatives
Collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives
WHO has partnered with Resolve to Save Lives, a not-for-profit organization, to support the REPLACE action package. Launched in 2018, the REPLACE action package provides a strategic framework for countries to eliminate industrially produced fat from their food supplies.
Strategic Approach
The REPLACE action package includes the following components:
- Review dietary sources of fat and the landscape for required policy change.
- Promote the replacement of industrially produced fat with healthier fats and oils.
- Legislate or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially produced fat.
- Create awareness about the negative health impacts of fat.
- Assess and monitor fat content in the food supply and changes in fat consumption.
Enforce compliance with policies and regulations.
The WHO’s report highlights the significant progress made over the past five years in the global effort to eliminate industrially produced fat from food supplies. While the goal of complete elimination by the end of 2023 has not been fully achieved, the advancements in policy implementation and the increased number of protected individuals are promising. Continued efforts, particularly in regions with high fat burdens, are essential to ensure that all people worldwide are safeguarded from this harmful substance. WHO remains committed to supporting member states in their journey towards the complete elimination of industrial fat, emphasizing that it is an attainable, affordable, and life-saving goal.
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