Context: The government aim to make India Trans Fat free by 2022, a year ahead of target set by World Health Organization.
Trans fat
Trans Fat, a food toxin present in Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils.
Baked and fried foods, are a major contributor to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India.
Trans Fat is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
TFA can be found both naturally and artificially in foods. While natural trans-fats, present in very small amounts in certain animal products and whole milk, are not considered harmful, but industrially-produced artificial trans-fats, which are manufactured by done through adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, lead to an increase in bad cholesterol (LDL) and lowering of good cholesterol (HDL).
The REPLACE action package provides a strategic approach to eliminating industrially-produced trans fat from national food supplies, with the goal of global elimination by 2023.