European limit for trans fatty acids in the diet

Today the EU Commission adopted legislation that determines that in two years' time foodproducts may contain no more than 2% trans fatty acids (industrial; on a fat basis) in the end product. In the Netherlands, trans fatty acids are virtually no longer found in foods. In the Netherlands there has been no public health issue for years, but in some other European countries there still is.

Transfatty acids are a special type of fatty acid. Trans fatty acids arise from the hardening of oils during an industrial process. In addition, trans fatty acids arise in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, such as cattle and sheep. In the 90’s of the last century, scientific research has shown that trans fatty acids increase LDL cholesterol and thus increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The Dutch food industry has immediately taken precautions to reduce trans fatty acids. Where in the Netherlands the trans fatty acid content is already very low, this does not apply to some other European member states.

MVO welcomes limit

MVO -  the Netherlands Oils and Fats Industry is in favor of a maximum limit for trans fatty acids at the European level. As a result, food supply in all countries will become healthier and moreover, the situation will be much clearer for consumers. Consumers in the whole of Europe can soon count on low levels of trans fatty acids in their foods. To this date, that was often unclear because trans fatty acids are not allowed in the declaration on the label. What you can find on the label is the hardening process (under the term "hardening" or "hydrogenating") but it does not provide good information about this either.

In the Netherlands  oils and fats companies have managed to reduce the levels of industrial trans fatty acids in their products to a very low level. Chain organization MVO (formerly Productschap Margarine, Vetten en Oliën) being the initiator of the Task Force Responsible Fatty Acid Composition has achieved significant reductions in the levels of trans fatty acids in food through self-regulation, resulting in a healthier food supply.

Dutch intake already low

The average Dutch person does not take in more than 0.3 percent of calories from trans fatty acids per day, as is the outcome of the National Food Consumption Survey 2012 - 2016. The Health Council of the Netherlands recommends a maximum intake of 1 energy percent trans fatty acids per day, so we are well below that.  More than half of the amount of trans fatty acids in Dutch food is of animal origin. Although the new legislation is limited to industrial trans fatty acids only (because policy makers assume that it is not possible to prevent the formation of trans fatty acids in animals), the general nutritional advice for eating semi-skimmed or low-fat dairy products and less meat will also reduce the intake of animal trans fatty acids.

Click here for the press release of the EU Commission

Click here for the full text of the legislation