WHO Says Food Companies Should Stop Using Trans Fat By 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) says food companies should stop using trans fat in their products by 2023. According to CNN, WHO recently launched a new campaign to achieve this goal. Known as REPLACE, it's designed to provide training tools and resources to all countries, not just the United States, on how to eliminate trans fat from foods.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has already taken action to eliminate trans fat in the United States. Several years ago, the FDA said it was banning the use of this substance in foods, giving companies a 2018 deadline to comply. With 2018 now upon us, it appears that window is coming to a close.

Even with the FDA's ban, however, some foods containing trans fat remain on grocery stores' shelves. You'll often see trans fat listed in the ingredients of common foods such as cookies, cakes, pies, microwaveable popcorn, frostings, potato chips, cinnamon buns, margarine, coffee creamer and frozen pizza.

Also known as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, trans fat has become a growing concern among health professionals. However, WHO's REPLACE campaign could help to eliminate this otherwise harmful substances from the diets of millions of people throughout the world. REPLACE is being launched in conjunction with the health group Vital Strategies.

So, why is trans fat so bad? The problem with trans fat is that raises LDL cholesterol levels (the bad kind) while simultaneously lowering HDL cholesterol levels (the good kind). This one-two punch leads to clogged arteries, restricting the flow of blood and increasing the risk of heart disease. According to the FDA, removing all sources of trans fat would prevent thousands of heart attacks and save thousands of lives each year. Globally, eliminating trans fat could save up to 10 million lives each year, according to WHO.

Of course, WHO's REPLACE campaign is strictly voluntary, and countries are not required to participate. Given the profound health benefits offered by eliminating trans fat, however, it's safe to assume that many countries will at least attempt to reduce or eliminate their use of trans fat.

Not all fat is bad, and it's important for consumers to differentiate between good and bad fats. Trans fat is the worst and, therefore, should be avoided. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, on the other hand, are good for your health because they promote lower LDL and higher HDL cholesterol levels. Essentially, these healthy unsaturated fats have the opposite effect of trans fat, thereby promoting a healthier heart.