The Food and Drug Administration Thursday, proposed a ban on the usage of trans fats. However, this restriction will not be applicable on the naturally occurring trans fats in milk and meat.
"The agency has made a preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils, a major source of trans fat in processed food, are not generally recognized as safe for food," said Margaret Harmburg, food commissioner at FDA in a statement.
The term generalized as safe is a standard set by the FDA for certain products that have been approved by experts and recommended.
The initiative on FDA'S end to ban usage of trans fats can be seen as a move to curb the alarming increase in the number of heart patients in the U.S. According to FDA, ban on usage of trans fats can reduce 20,000 heart attacks and 7000 deaths, every year.
This restriction means the additive can't be used in food products without the approval from FDA. The food manufacturer will have to cite enough reasons for using the hydrogenated oils and prove it will not cause an adverse affect on consumer health.
The medical fraternity as well the public health advocates, both are supporting the move. "We commend the FDA for responding to the numerous concerns and evidence submitted over the years about the dangers of this industrially produced ingredient," said Nancy Brown, chief executive of American Heart Association, in a statement, reports BBC.
The FDA has given a 60-day period by which time the food manufacturers have to discontinue the usage or give reasons why. The association expects a positive response as already many food manufacturers have excluded trans fats from their food products including Mc Donald's.
According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the food manufactures in U.S. have reduced the usage of trans fats in products by 73 percent in recent years as compared to 2003. "Trans fats that are not naturally occurring have been drastically reduced," said Leon Bruner, chief science officer at Grocery Manufacturers Association, according to a recent post on Reuters. "We look forward to working with the FDA to better understand their concerns and how our industry can better serve consumers."
The consumption of trans fats has declined among the Americans from 4.6 grams a day in 2003 to 1gram in 2012 yet the amount needs to be reduced further.
