KATHMANDU: High levels of trans-fat in commonly consumed food items such as bread, biscuits and bakery products pose a serious risk to heart health, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has warned.
According to the Department, recent market monitoring found that many processed food items contain excessive trans-fat, particularly those made using industrial raw materials. Bread, cookies and bakery products were found to have higher-than-acceptable levels of trans-fat during inspections.
DFTQC Director General Dr Matina Joshi Vaidya said the Department has intensified monitoring of processed food items, including popcorn, bakery products and biscuits, due to growing health concerns.
“Some days ago, popcorn samples were tested and found to contain excessive trans-fat. The concerned company was instructed to immediately withdraw the product from the market,” she said, adding that similar risks may exist in biscuits and other processed foods.
Nepal endorsed the Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2021–2025) on February 7, 2022. As part of this, the government adopted a policy to limit industrially produced trans-fat to less than two percent in packaged and industrially manufactured food products.
Dr Vaidya said the policy is being implemented with the objective of eliminating industrially produced unhealthy fats from the national food system by 2023.
She explained that trans-fat occurs in two forms—natural and industrial. Naturally occurring trans-fat, also known as ruminant trans-fatty acids, is found in small amounts in foods derived from animals such as cows and sheep. Industrial trans-fat, however, is produced through partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils and is commonly used in processed foods.
Industrially produced trans-fat is found in fast foods, baked items such as pies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, fried foods including French fries and chicken nuggets, instant noodles, microwave popcorn, wafers, frozen desserts, shortening and certain types of margarine.
Dr Vaidya said industrial trans-fat is significantly more harmful than natural trans-fat due to its higher concentration in processed foods.
According to global estimates, around 540,000 deaths occur annually due to the consumption of industrially produced trans-fatty acids. In India alone, more than 60,000 deaths linked to coronary heart disease are associated with trans-fat consumption.
Studies show that a two percent increase in trans-fat intake as a share of total calorie consumption increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 23 percent. Excessive trans-fat intake also contributes to weight gain, increases the risk of type-2 diabetes, raises bad cholesterol levels and lowers good cholesterol.
Dr Vaidya said excessive trans-fat consumption increases the risk of death from any cause by 34 percent and deaths from coronary heart disease by 28 percent.
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