Junk food grappling with global regulations, concerns about trans-fats

With growing concern about trans fat and its ill effects on human health, the noose is tightening around such products. Regulations from the apex food authorities worldwide and even directions from courts in recent times regarding defining junk food are doing rounds that represents global concern. 

In this regard, the recent decision by the US FDA to ban the trans fats in processed food is seen as a right step as many European countries have already regulations in place to check the trans fats and saturated fats.

Countries like Denmark have strict regulations that processed food should not contain trans fat more than 2%. 

However, the regulations in India are just begun. Currently the trans fat content is allowed at 10%, which was supposed to be brought down to 5% within three years.

Experts feel that the regulatory authority needs to do a lot more in order to bring the content to the level of European countries. 

Recently on November 11, the apex food regulator of India – FSSAI issued a notification for extension of the deadline for the industry to comply with regulations regarding trans fats and saturated fats, wherein the FBOs (Food Business Operators) have to declare in the label about the total content of trans fat, total saturated fat by weight and total fatty acid by percentage. 

Now the deadline has been extended till July 1, 2014. 

Amit Khurana, programme manager, food safety and toxins division of Centre for Science and Environment, felt that the regulations needed to be implemented in the right sprit. “For last five years there had been discussions only. In India we lag behind in terms of checks of such unhealthy foods, which cause serious health concerns,” he said. 

He added that there is need to define and regulate products particularly the synthetically produced, like hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Besides this, recently, the Delhi High Court has also asked the apex food body of the country to define the junk food earlier this year and dismissed the plea by FBOs that there should not be any new category of the food while hearing on October 29.

The plea, filed by an NGO for banning sale of aerated drink and junk food (such food which are high on sodium and low with nutrients) within 500 m, is under consideration in the Delhi High Court and the next hearing is scheduled in December.

The petitioner has given examples of the US and UK wherein there is a ban on such products in schools.