WHO releases REPLACE guide to eliminate trans-fatty acids from food by 2023

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on May 15, 2018 released REPLACE, a guide for the elimination of industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply by 2023.

As per WHO, every year, trans fat intake leads to more than 500000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease.

REPLACE: Six strategic actions

REPLACE provides six strategic actions to ensure complete and sustained elimination of trans fats from the food supply.

The successful implementation of these six strategic actions in the REPLACE package will help in achieving the elimination of trans fat, thus, combating the cardiovascular disease.

Other key highlights

• Some countries have already implemented nationwide bans on partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of trans fats.

• Several high-income countries have almost eliminated industrially-produced trans fats through legal measures.

• Denmark was the first country to mandate restrictions on industrially-produced trans fats.

• Among cities, the New York City eliminated industrially-produced trans fats a decade ago.

• Action is now needed in low- and middle-income countries to ensure that the benefits are felt equally around the world.

WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work

• WHO has identified elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from food as one of the priority targets of its draft 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) which will guide the work of WHO in 2019 - 2023.

• GPW13 is on the agenda of the 71st World Health Assembly that will be held in Geneva during May 21-26, 2018.