Bangladesh adopts regulation on limiting trans-fat

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority has adopted the best-practice policy declared by the World Health Organization in regulating toxic trans fatty acids in foodstuffs.

The regulation was in the government gazette on Monday. Experts find the regulation a landmark step by the government in reducing heart disease risks.

PROGGA – Knowledge for Progress, the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB) – and Consumers Association of Bangladesh in a statement hailed the latest step of the government.

Mentioning around 5 lakh people die from trans fat-induced heart diseases globally each year, the organisation said the “Limiting Trans Fatty Acids in Foodstuffs Regulations, 2021” will ensure safe food and at the same time play a pivotal role in preventing non-communicable diseases.

National Professor Abdul Malik, founder and president of the NHFB, said the prevalence of heart diseases among young and middle-aged people has increased in recent years, for which, intake of trans fat-laden food is largely to be blamed.

“Implementation of the new regulation will drastically reduce the prevalence of heart diseases in the country. My congratulations will be to the government for such a timely endeavour,” he added.

According to Regional Director of South Asia Programs at Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) Vandana Shah said, “Bangladesh joins a growing number of countries, including India, Brazil and Turkey, that are taking steps to follow the WHO’s call to eliminate industrially-produced trans fat from their food supply by 2023.

“I applaud BFSA’s leadership and initiative in making Bangladesh TFA-free.

This policy will contribute significantly towards reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases and will motivate other countries in the region to take similar action,” Vandana added.

PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair said, “Intake of trans-fat causes 4.41 per cent of deaths from heart diseases in Bangladesh.