Food Talk: Indian snacks are loaded with trans fat

The directive of US Food and Drug Administration to food manufacturers for removing artificial trans fat from products has led experts in India to demand similar action.They claim that Indian snacks--both packaged products and the ones being sold by roadside hawkers--contain excessive amounts of the fat which is believed to make food tastier and increase shelf life. But trans fats are responsible for a range of chronic illnesses.

"There is no regulation of artificial trans fat in India.Manufacturers merely put a label on them, mentioning the trans fat content, but it is written in a small font that's hard to notice. In some cases, the information is misleading," said Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-Doc, centre of excellence for diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism.

"Artificial trans fat is not present in processed food alone.The use of oil, for example Vanaspati, which is loaded with trans fat, in households is rampant. In a survey conducted by us it was revealed that more than 75% of the housewives in Delhi are ignorant about the illeffects of Vanaspati oil. They use it regularly to cook parathas and poori and serve it to their children for breakfast," Dr Misra added. He said creating awareness about the bad fat and its health impact is more important than regulation.

A survey conducted by Diabetes Foundation of India showed most housewives reuse oil for frying. Hawkers selling chhole bhature, puri, samosa and aloo tikki, which we love to eat, are able to keep the prices low by resorting to the same practice. Dr Sujeet Jha, head of endocrinology department at Max Hospital, Saket, said unlike US where people are aware about their health, in India we are not careful about what we eat. "It is important to create awareness," he said.

The Harvard School of Public Health has estimated ischemic heart disease will be the single-most costly non-communicable disease in India causing output loss of $1.21 trillion in 2012-30, followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."Regulation of the industry is most important," Dr K K Aggarwal, national general secretary , IMA, said.