The World Health Organisation (WHO) now recommends that governments around the world phase out partially hydrogenated oils if it turns out trans-fat labeling alone result in significant reductions.
The 'new' recommendation was made by the WHO in a proposed action plan for its food standards rulemaking body, the infamous Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). Codex is regarded with significant suspicion around the world in alternative health circles because it's seen as a threat to access to supplements.
In the request for comments on the draft action plan for implementation of the global strategy on diet, physical activity and health, the WHO said:
"If the provisions for labelling of, and claims for, trans-fatty acids do not affect a marked reduction in the global availability of foods containing trans-fatty acids produced by processing of oils and by partial hydrogenation, consideration should be given to the setting of limits on the content of industrially produced trans-fatty acids in foods."
The deadlines for comments are 15 October 2006 on matters related to the CCNFSDU (Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses) and 1 January 2007 on matters related to the CCFL (Codex Committee on Food Labeling). One wonders what they will receive.
Back in 2003 the WHO said:
"Evidence suggests that excessive consumption of energy-rich foods can encourage weight gain, the report says and calls for a limit in the consumption of saturated and trans fats, sugars and salt in the diet, noting they are often found in snacks, processed foods and drinks."
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr20/en/ [1]
It appears today that no one was listening in 2003. Perhaps the WHO realized this because in 2004 they tried again. The WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health released in that year again stated that:
The strategy emphasizes the need to limit the consumption of saturated fats and trans fatty acids, salt and sugars, and to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables and levels of physical activity.
"Trans fats, which are mainly found in (partially) hydrogenated vegetable oil, common ingredients in thousands of food products, have been negatively linked to raising blood cholesterol levels and promoting heart disease."
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2004/wha4/en/ [2]
Although it is a fairly gross simplification, research consistently confirms that when too much 'bad' cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. With a little inflamation that follows atherosclerosis results.
Experts agree that people should reduce or stop their dietary intake of trans fatty acids to minimise the related risk of coronary heart disease. This means you; this means everyone.
The Codex global strategy also recommended an increase in consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes, whole grains and nuts, and proposed amending the General Standard for prepackaged foods labeling to show the ingoing percentage of any ingredient that 'is the subject of an express or implied claim about the presence of any fruits, vegetables, whole grains or added sugars'.
"Consumers regard fruit, vegetables and whole grains as healthy foods and manufacturers capitalise on this view. Claims for the presence of these foods as ingredients abound," the Codex document observed.
"Disclosure of the amounts of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts in multi-ingredient foods would enable consumers to compare the amounts of these nutritionally desirable ingredients in foods and make their selections accordingly."
While that's true, it is rather naiive. Many years of providing excellent health education taught me what many others also know - just because people know what's good for them and what's bad for them does not mean they will choose to do the good. Health education and guidelines in public education strategies may change health related knowledge but it is much more difficult to change health related behaviors.
Still, we live in hope. For details of a genuinely healthy diet and lifestyle, complete with hundreds of expert recipes that are both healthy and delicious, get the two-volume set called Safe Colon Cleansing [3] when it is released. It should be available within two weeks. Don't be put off by the title, it is about achieving and maintaining good health and vitality and it provides a whole new approach to colon cleansing.