The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on November 7, 2013 that partially hydrogenated oils (the primary dietary source for artificial trans fats) in processed foods are not “generally recognized as safe” for use in food. The FDA established a 60-day comment period to collect additional data and to help them get input on the approximate amount of time needed for manufacturers to reformulate their products and eliminate trans fats from their food products.
FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. acknowledges that, “consumption of potentially harmful artificial trans fats has declined over the last two decades in the United States, [however] current intake remains a significant public health concern.” Consumption of trans fat raises “bad” cholesterol (LDL), which can cause potential health problems such as heart attack and heart disease.
The results of a study done by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is no safe level of consumption for trans fats. The IOM recommends that trans fats should be consumed as little as possible since the consumption of trans fats do not provide any known health benefits, rather, trans fats can cause heart health issues.
In the past several years, manufacturers and retailers have voluntarily decreased trans fat levels in many foods and products they sell; however, trans fats can still be found in some processed foods (certain desserts, microwave popcorn, frozen pizzas, margarine, and coffee creamers). Advances in manufacturing processes and methods have allowed manufacturers to demonstrate that many processed food products can be made without trans fats. Since that is the case, the FDA has moved to further reduce the amount of trans fats found in the food supply.
After reviewing the submitted comments during the 60-day comment period, the FDA may move to finalize its preliminary determination. Once that occurs, partially hydrogenated oils would be categorized “food additives” and cannot be used in food unless authorized by regulation. The FDA states that if a determination is made, the agency would give producers an adequate amount of time to reformulate products. The determination would only apply to partially hydrogenated oils and does not affect trans fats found naturally in certain meat and dairy products.
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