The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is ordering the food companies to phase out partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in processed foods over the next three years.
The elimination of PHOs, which are the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat, is expected to result in reduction of coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year.
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition director Susan Mayne said: "Studies show that diet and nutrition play a key role in preventing chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and today's action goes hand in hand with other FDA initiatives to improve the health of Americans, including updating the nutrition facts label.
"This determination is based on extensive research into the effects of PHOs, as well as input from all stakeholders received during the public comment period."
Under the new FDA rules, the food companies can either reformulate products without PHOs and/or petition the FDA to permit specific uses of PHOs.
Following the three-year compliance period, no PHOs can be added to human food unless they are otherwise approved by the FDA.
US food manufacturers have been including trans fat content information on the Nutrition Facts label of foods since 2006.
Currently, foods containing less than 0.5g of trans fat per serving, including PHOs, are being labeled as containing 0g of transfat.
During the period between 2003 and 2012, the FDA estimates that consumer trans fat consumption decreased by about 78%. However, current intake of trans fat remains a public health concern.
Image: Under the new FDA rules, the food companies can either reformulate products without PHOs and/or petition the FDA to permit specific uses of PHOs. Photo: courtesy of mapichai / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
