Presentation to the Committee on Private Members

1
Presentation to the Committee on Private
Members Legislative Proposals and Special
Petitions

• On Dr Rabinowitzs Proposal on outlawing the use
  of transfats in food prepared for sale to the
  Public
• 19 November 2008

2
SA Food Labelling Regulations(Published under
the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act,
1972 (Act 54 of 1972)

• Current Regulation R2034 of 29 October 1993
• Does not address trans fat indication at all
• New draft R642 of 20 July 2007
• Addresses trans fat indication pertinently
• Definition (excludes natural TFAs)
• List of ingredients indicate partially
  hydrogenated or hydrogenated
• Mandatory declaration required of trans fat in
  Nutrition Information Table whenever a partially
  hydrogenated or hydrogenated fat has been used
  as an ingredient
• Trans fat declaration is part of minimum info
  required for Nutrition information table when
  provided on label
• No health or nutrition claim is permitted for any
  foodstuff that contains partially hydrogenated
  fat.

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What is trans fat?

• Definition
• TFAs are the sum of all isomer fatty acids with
  14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 carbon atoms and one or
  more trans-conjugations, i.e. C141, C 161,
  C181, C182, C183, C201, C202, C221, C222
  trans isomer fatty acids, but only
  polyunsaturated fatty acids with
  methylen-disrupted double bonds. (exludes TFAs
  naturally occurring in meat and dairy products)

4
Natural vs man-made TFAs

• Difference?
• Man-made Industrially processed trans fatty
  acids (IP-TFA) obtained through chemical process
  of partial hydrogenation
• Ruminant (dairy and meat) trans fats
  (trans-Vaccenic acid and conjugated linoleic
  acid) may have health benefits - scientific
  evidence so far very promising

5
Global perspective

• 2005/2006 WHO/FAOs Global Strategy on Diet,
  Physical Activity and Health (GSDPH)
• Identified Industrially processed trans fatty
  acids (IP-TFA) as one of the culprits of the
  global pandemic of chronic diseases of lifestyle
  (CHD, diabetes, cancer, obesity, syndrome X)
• WHOs recommendation IP-TFA lt 1 of energy intake

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Global perspective

• Codex Alimentarius
• 2005 WHO instructed Codex to implement the
  Global strategy to reduce incidence of chronic
  diseases of lifestyle
• Specifically 2 Committees were identified
  CCNFSDU and CCFL
• Codex Guideline on Nutrition Labelling allows
  National Authorities to decide on Trans fat
  declaration

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Codex

• 2006 SAs official comments to CCNFSDU
• proposed a global ban on IP-TFA
• Manufacturers to seek alternative technologies
  without the harmful effects
• Choose more appropriate type of fats (tropical
  oils and various fraction combinations)
• 2008 CCFL prepared discussion document which was
  approved by Codex Commission as new work
• Time frame for completion 5 years (2013)
• Definition for trans fat Denmark, Canada and SA
  differ from Codex exclude ruminant trans fats

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What is trans fat? Definitions

• Codex TFAs are defined as all the geometrical
  isomers of monounsaturted and polyunsaturated
  fatty acids having non-conjugated, interrupted by
  at least one methylene group, carbon-carbon
  double bonds in the trans configeration. (include
  TFAs in meat and dairy products)
• SA TFAs are the sum of all isomer fatty acids
  with 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 carbon atoms and one
  or more trans-conjugations, i.e. C141, C 161,
  C181, C182, C183, C201, C202, C221, C222
  trans isomer fatty acids, but only
  polyunsaturated fatty acids with
  methylen-disrupted double bonds. (exludes TFAs
  naturally occurring in meat and dairy products)
• Denmark TFAs are the sum of all isomer fatty
  acids with 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 carbon atoms and
  one or more trans-conjugations, i.e. C141, C
  161, C181, C182, C183, C201, C202, C221,
  C222 trans isomer fatty acids, but only
  polyunsaturated fatty acids with
  methylen-disrupted double bonds. (exludes TFAs
  naturally occurring in meat and dairy products)

9
Strategies implemented by other countries

• Denmark
• 2003 Legislation implemented to prohibit the use
  of fats and oils containing more than 2 IP-TFA
• Virtually eliminated the Danish consumers intake
  of IP-TFA
• Dramatically reduced the associated health risks
• EU Industry complained Denmarks response was
  No and if necessary the case would be brought
  to court
• 2004 Investigate availability of
  high-trans-fat-menu on global scale
• 2005 Public surveillance programme found it was
  impossible to ingest more than 1 g IP-TFA on a
  daily basis in Denmark

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Strategies implemented by other countries

• Denmark (cont)
• Survey Global High TFAs menus
• 714 samples (fast foods from McDonalds, KFC etc.
  and other foods with a nutritionally
  insignificant (high-energy-nutrient-poor)
  profile from around the globe were analysed.
• Conclusion Frightening statistics Frying oils
  differ substantially even within the same chain
  in different countries
• SA McDonalds outlets contained 23-28 IP-TFA

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Strategies implemented by other countries

• USA
• 2005 New York City Department of Health and
  Mental Hygiene
• Introduced a voluntary programme involving
  restaurateurs and food suppliers - make oil
  change to eliminate IP-TFA from their kitchens -
  letters were sent to 20,000 restaurants and
  14,000 supermarkets (Not possible in SA!)
• Supported by American Heart Foundation and FDA
• From 1 January 2006 FDA required trans fat to be
  listed on all nutrition labels.
• USA have mandatory Nutrition Labelling system
  for all foods (SA currently requires mandatory
  Nutrition Labelling only when a claim is made
  otherwise nutrition info is a voluntary decision
  of manufacturer

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Foods affected by TFAs

• All high-energy-low-in-good-nutrients foods
• Baked foods (pies, muffins, biscuits, salty
  crackers, certain breads e.g., hamburger buns)
• Brick-type margarines Unilever voluntarily
  reduced IP-TFA in all their margarines, fat
  spreads and oils to maximum 1
• Commercial fry oils intended for use in fast food
  outlets and restaurants
• Deep-fried and pre-fried foods (french fries,
  fish, chicken, sausages, nuggets, doughnuts,
  vetkoek etc.)
• Snack foods (packaged and microwave popcorn,
  candy, savoury type snacks such as potato and
  maize chips, hot beverage type drinks , non-dairy
  tea and coffee creamers)

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Opinion of the Department of Health

• 2 Options open for SA
• 1. Continue with finalizing new Labelling
  Regulations delay of several more months due to
  Nutrient Profiling Model not available
• 2. Combine Strategies used by Denmark and USA
• Ban the use of IP-TFA in all prepared
  foods/ingredients manufactured in SA as well as
  pre-packed foods and bulk ingredients imported
  into SA
• Include fast foods outlets, restaurants and
  in-store kitchens

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Conclusion

• Department of Health support 2nd option
• It will accelerate and greatly speed up (even
  practically eliminate) the desired reduction in
  risk of chronic diseases of lifestyle associated
  with IP-TFA
• Consumer education in respect of healthy diet
  choices critically important
• Certain challenges involved in respect of law
  enforcement - may need to involve more than one
  Government Department

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Thank you for your attention!