Raising alarm over the excessive level of trans fat in food, speakers at a webinar on Thursday called for finalising regulation to limit such kind of food items soon.
The webinar titled ‘Role of the Youth in Achieving Trans Fat Free Bangladesh’ was organised marking International Youth Day by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, said a press release.
“Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is working to finalise the regulation titled 'Limiting Trans Fatty Acids in Foodstuffs regulations, 2021' and it is undoubtedly a praiseworthy task,” Vice-president of the Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh (CAB) SM Nazer Hossain said.
"Nonetheless," he said, "its progress is not of much satisfaction. The regulations must be finalised immediately."
Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Professor at the Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, said trans fat-induced heart diseases kill around six thousand people in Bangladesh each year, and a significant portion of them are young people.
Unless trans fat-free food is ensured, the young generation cannot be protected from risks of heart diseases, said General Secretary of Bangladesh Food and Nutrition Association (BAFNA) Bipul Biswas Apon.
According to a study, one in five youth in Bangladesh is posed with the risk of heart diseases and excessive level of trans fat in food is one of its major causes, the press release read.
Trans Fatty Acid (TFA) or trans fat is a food element harmful to health. Dalda or bonospoti ghee (clarified butter), as well as the food items prepared with it — fast food and bakery items — contain trans fat.
More so, using the same cooking oil in high temperatures also creates trans fat that causes risks of heart diseases and related premature deaths.
Researchers from the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute have found trans fat levels exceeding the WHO threshold of 2 per cent of the total fat contents in 92 per cent of sampled dalda/bonospoti ghee. WHO has set the target of eliminating trans fat from the global food supply chain by 2023.
Coordinator of Trans Fat Project at National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh Dr Sheikh Mohammad Mahbubus Sobhan and Coordinator of Trans Fat Elimination Project at PROGGA Mahmud Al Islam Shihab presented keynotes at the webinar.
Along with the young participants from all over the country, representatives of various organisations including Muhammad Ruhul Quddus (GHAI) and ABM Zubair (PROGGA) were present at the webinar.
