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FSSAI survey shows only 3.14% samples found with trans-fats exceeding 2% - its trans-fats goal
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Thursday, 23 September, 2021, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has claimed that in a nationwide survey of trans-fats, only 3.14 % (196 samples) were found having trans-fats exceeding 2%, the limit it has set to achieve by 2022.
FSSAI says that the findings of the survey revealed that the food processing industry was positive about FSSAI’s regulation for eliminating industrially produced trans-fats in foods by 2022 and the survey results ‘demolish’ the perception of excessive usage of industrial trans-fats in processed food products.
“This study has shown that India is well set to achieve its mandate of eliminating industrially produced trans-fats by 2022,” reads a statement by the FSSAI.
A total of 6,245 samples of packaged products were collected on a random basis to ensure diversity and sampling of local packaged foods from different strata of the food market. The trans-fats content was determined based on the sum of trans fatty acid (TFA) isomers, i.e. Elaidate and Linoelaidioate, and calculated in terms of fat content in the processed food samples in selected NABL accredited testing laboratories.
The packaged food items were divided into six predefined categories and were collected from 419 cities across 34 states.
The Category 1 comprises- Sweets, Toppings and Chocolates and 1,051 samples of this category were drawn for analysis. The Category 2 was of Fried Foods and 1,061 samples were analysed. The Category 3, was of Bakery and Confectionery products wherein 1,072 samples were analysed. The Category 4 included Frozen Foods and 973 samples were sent for analysis while the Category 5 was of Composite Foods and 1,019 samples were analysed. The Category 6 covered - Oils, Vanaspati, Shortenings and Margarine wherein 1,069 samples were analysed.
According to the FSSAI’s survey, around 90% (176 samples) of the 196 samples that exceeded 2% trans-fats belonged to the category 6 (Oils, Vanaspati, Shortenings and Margarine). The analysis of 5176 samples collected from the other five categories of food products (Category 1-5 ) revealed that nearly 0.4% (20 samples) contained more than 2% trans-fat. In category 6, comprising of Oils, Vanaspati, Shortenings and Margarines, 100 samples out of a total of 1,069 food products analysed had trans-fats content of more than 2% and less than 3%, while 76 samples contained more than 3% trans-fats.
FSSAI has mandated to reduce the limit of industrially produced trans-fats, to not more than 2% to make the country free from industrially produced trans-fats by 2022.
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