Nais ng World Health Organization (WHO) na maalis ang artificial trans fats mula sa global food supply at mayroon nang step-by-step strategy kung paano ito maisasakatuparan sa 2023.

Inilunsad ng WHO nitong Lunes ang inisyatiba na tinatawag na REPLACE na magkakaloob ng guidance para sa lahat ng bansa kung paano tatanggalin ang artificial trans fats mula sa mga pagkain, na mag-uuwi sa paglalaho nito sa buong mundo.

“This initiative is meant to lead countries in establishing legislation to eliminate the trans fats,” sabi ni Dr. Francesco Branca, director ng Department of Nutrition for Health and Development sa WHO sa Geneva, Switzerland.

Ang artificial trans fats, o trans fatty acids, ay nabubuo kapag nanigas ang vegetable oil sa proseso na tinatawag na hydrogenation. Ang hydrogenated fats na ito ay maaaring gamitin sa fried foods, snack foods o baked goods, at sa mga produkto gaya ng vegetable shortening, stick margarine, coffee creamer at ready-to-use frostings. Hindi madaling mapanis ang mga ito kumpara sa ibang fats, ngunit may masama ring epekto sa kalusugan, gaya ng pagtaas ng antas ng “bad” LDL cholesterol at panganib ng sakit sa puso, stroke at type 2 diabetes.

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“There are countries where the risk is particularly high. In South Asian countries, they have very, very high risk of heart disease and high intakes of trans fats,” sinabi ni Branca.

“There are some Latin American countries, but they’re already taking action. Mexico was a country where the intake was very high,” he said. “South Africa was having problems, but then they established legislation. It is happening in more countries in the Middle East, but the information we have is limited.”

Ang REPLACE ay kumakatawan sa review dietary sources, promote use of healthier fats, legislate, assess changes, create awareness at enforce.

Ang REPLACE package ay ang unang pagkakataon na nananawagan ang WHO para sa pagtanggal ng big lifestyle factor na tumutulak sa non-communicable disease, gaya ng sinabi ni Dr. Tedros Adhanom, director-general ng WHO, sa telebriefing nitong Lunes.

Ang non-communicable diseases, kilala rin bilang chronic diseases, ay tila resulta ng kombinasyon ng genetic, physiological, environmental at behavioral factors, gaya ng diet, ayon sa WHO. Ang cardiovascular diseases, iniugnay sa diet high na mataas sa artificial trans fats, ay isang halimbawa ng non-communicable disease.

“Non-communicable diseases are the world’s leading cause of death,” sinabi ni Adhanom sa telebriefing.

“WHO is committed to supporting countries to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.”