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FDA: Partially hydrogenated oil unsafe for food use due to CV risks
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The FDA has announced a preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils are not “generally recognized as safe” for use in food.
In the event that this determination is finalized, partially hydrogenated oils — the main source of trans fats in processed foods — would be designated as food additives, and its use would be regulated and require authorization, according to a press release.
The FDA has initiated a 60-day comment period, during which the agency will collect additional data and determine the time food manufacturers would require to remove partially hydrogenated oils from current products, should the determination become final, according to the release.
Margaret A. Hamburg
“While consumption of potentially harmful artificial trans fat has declined over the last two decades in the United States, current intake remains a significant public health concern,” FDA commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, stated in the release. “The FDA’s action today is an important step toward protecting more Americans from the potential dangers of trans fat. Further reduction in the amount of trans fat in the American diet could prevent an additional 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year — a critical step in the protection of Americans’ health.”
The announcement refers only to partially hydrogenated oils, and not the small amounts of trans fats that can occur naturally in certain foods, including meat and dairy products.
The AMA released a statement from board member Patrice A. Harris, MD, in response to the FDA announcement. “Banning the use of artificial trans fats is a life-saving move that can help keep the public healthy, and the American Medical Association strongly supports the Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation to eliminate one of the most harmful fats in our food supply,” Harris said in the release. “The FDA’s recommendation aligns with AMA’s strategy to prevent heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and to improve outcomes for those suffering from these diseases. With proper intervention, the effects of these conditions can be dramatically reduced, leading to a healthier nation and reducing health care spending.”