International Food & Beverage Alliance to phase out trans fatty acids by 2018 end

The International Food & Beverage Alliance (IFBA) has pledged to phase out use of industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs) in their products manufactured and sold worldwide by the end of 2018.

IFBA claimed that it is a progress from the commitments it first made to the World Health Organization in 2008.

The members of IFBA will reduce the use of TFA to insignificant levels, which is less than 1gm in every 100g of product.

IFBA also stated that its members have been listing trans fat level in nutrition labels of their products to inform consumers.

In addition, its members have been voluntarily reformulating their products to incorporate healthier fats such as mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated fatty acids and eliminate the use of hydrogenated oil, a major source of trans fat in processed foods.

IFBA secretary-general Rocco Renaldi said: "Reducing the intake of industrial trans fats to nutritionally insignificant levels has been identified as a priority in public health nutrition.

"The commitment by IFBA member companies to achieve this globally over the next two and 1.5 years supports this objective.

"We stand ready to support the broader industry to achieve the same and to work to define effective measures to ensure a level playing field in this area."

As part of its Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013 – 2020, the World Health Organization urged food processors to replace TFAs with unsaturated fats.