Announcement date
28 July 2023
Link to announcement
https://foodregulation.gov.au/internet/fr/publishing.nsf/Content/forum-communique-2023-july
Problem being addressed
Trans fats intake is strongly associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and related mortality. Trans fats have no proven health benefits. Compared to consumption of other fats, trans fats elevate the body's level of LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduce HDL (good) cholesterol, and increase the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol which is a strong predictor of risk of coronary heart disease.
Proposal
The Consultation RIS outlines policy options and seeks feedback from stakeholders on eliminating or reducing industrially-produced trans fats to the lowest level possible in the Australia and New Zealand food supply, particularly to protect population groups more vulnerable from the harmful effects of trans fats. These options include:
The status quo.
- No regulatory actions on industrially-produced trans fats and limited information available to consumers on the trans fat content of foods.
Voluntary reformulation.
- Targets for industrially-produced trans fats or use of partially-hydrogenated oils could be established through existing reformulation programs such as the Health Food Partnership in Australia.
Regulatory limits for industrially-produced trans fats in processed foods.
- A mandatory limit such as of 2g of industrially-produced trans fats per 100g total fat could be introduced for all foods.
Prohibiting use of partially-hydrogenated oils in processed foods.
- Use of partially-hydrogenated oils in processed foods would be prohibited.
Assessed Impact Analysis outcome
Compliant consultation RIS