The 2007 Port of Spain Declaration on non-communicable diseases, endorsed by Heads of Governments, expressed strong support for eliminating trans fats from citizens’ diet. In 2022, CARICOM Ministers of Trade and Health committed to enacting legislation by December 2024 and to eliminating trans fats from the Caribbean food supply by December 2025.

It’s time to follow through!

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AVOIDING CONSUMPTION GOES BEYOND INDIVIDUAL CHOICE!

On an individual level, we can all reduce our intake of trans fats by avoiding fried, baked and packaged goods that contain hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils or list trans fats on their labels.

However, in reality, trans fats aren’t always listed on nutrition labels and it’s difficult to tell whether they are being used in street or restaurant food as compared to other fats.

For example, because hard margarine and vegetable shortening contain trans fats, anything made with these products —like biscuits, pies and breads —will likely contain trans fats as well.

That’s why it’s the responsibility of our government, to protect citizens from the harmful effects of trans fats.

Avoiding trans fats goes beyond individual responsibility! Governments need to protect their citizens.

Implementing regulations that limit industrially produced trans fats to no more than 2% of the total fat in all food products or banning partially hydrogenated oils altogether can help solve our trans fats problem. And this is a very achievable goal!

As of July 2024, 58 countries around the world (covering 3.7 billion people) – 9 of them in the Americas – have already enacted best practice policies to eliminate trans fats.

The Caribbean region is, unfortunately, falling behind in taking action despite its commitments.  But it’s not too late!

Eliminating trans fats from our food supply by December 2025 is a win that is still within reach once policymakers fulfill their commitments.

THE CARIBBEAN RELATIONSHIP WITH TRANS FATS!

So far, we only have commitments that have been made. The reality of our relationship with trans fats in the Caribbean is still quite dire despite so many other countries eliminating the harmful substance.

A Jamaican study conducted in 2023, revealed that almost 34% of very commonly consumed foods contained trans fats and about half of all products claiming to have not trans fats actually did. This proves that labels cannot be trusted as a means of detecting trans fats in our foods and further cements the need for policies that protect Caribbean people.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) conducted an assessment on the economic impact of eliminating industrially produced trans fats in Barbados. They found that implementing a national ban in 2019 could have prevented USD 546,246.13 in future productivity losses.

So not only is policy necessary to protect our health, it is likely to contribute positively to our economies as well!

TRANS FATS ARE A DANGER TO CARIBBEAN HEALTH!

There are no health benefits to trans fats but there a slew of harmful effects.

The consumption of trans fats is indeed associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and death from coronary heart disease. A comprehensive analysis in 2010 estimated that 537,000 global deaths from coronary heart disease were linked to trans fats intake, with 160,000 of these deaths occurring in the Americas and the Caribbean, 45% of which were premature.

But there are other risks to consuming trans fats:

Cardiovascular disease is another issue exacerbated by trans fats intake. Trans fats increase LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), which carries cholesterol through the blood vessels. It is commonly called “bad cholesterol”. Trans fats also decrease HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein), commonly called “good cholesterol”, which carries cholesterol from the blood to the liver where it is broken down and removed from the body.

Type 2 Diabetes is also a risk affected by trans fats consumption as they impair the body’s ability to use insulin effectively.

Chronic Inflammation has also been shown by research to be significantly influenced by the intake of trans fats, contributing to an adverse inflammatory profile.

Obesity has been proven to be exacerbated by the consumption of trans fats as it increases weight gain and the accumulation of visceral fat.

Diminished Mental Performance is another risk of trans fats consumption. Research has revealed adverse effects on the brain and nervous system, and potential implications for cognitive function and mental performance.  A study on dementia patients unearthed a correlation between trans fats levels, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and the severity of cognitive disorders, suggesting a link to cognitive decline.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND TRANS FATS

Trans fats are called by several names and are listed differently on various food labels and nutritional lists. They can be called:

• trans-fatty acids (TFAs)
• unsaturated fatty acids
• trans-unsaturated fatty acids
• hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils

But what exactly are they? How are they produced?

Well, there are two types:

Natural trans fats are produced naturally in very small amounts in the guts of some ruminant animals like cows, sheep, and goats through bacterial transformation of unsaturated fatty acids derived from feed.

On the other hand, industrially-produced trans fats are manufactured by partial hydrogenation of liquid vegetable oils containing unsaturated fatty acids. Hydrogenation is simply the addition of hydrogen to these liquid oils in order to make them solid at room temperature.

Most trans fats come from ultra-processed products —extensively modified versions of natural foods because they give a more desirable taste and texture, and extend the shelf life of these chemically altered food products.

THE HCC’S FIGHT TO HELP ELIMINATE TRANS FATS FROM THE CARIBBEAN

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is supporting civil society advocacy for the elimination of industrially-produced trans fatty-acids from the Caribbean food supply.

In January 2024, the HCC launched a project with the primary objective being to collaborate with key regional and national partners to spur policymakers to action and build public awareness and support for the enactment of regulations in CARICOM Member States that will eliminate partially hydrogenated oils from the food supply, and limit trans fatty acid content to no more than 2% of total fat in all food products.

PARTNER LOGOS

Other contributing partners: The CARICOM Secretariat, The Caribbean Public Health Law Forum (CPHLF), The Law and Health Research Unit (LHRU) of the University of the West Indies, Barbados, The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University in Washington D.C, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB), The Ministry of Health And Wellness, Barbados, Healthy Bahamas Coalition (HBC), Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ), Lake Health and Wellbeing of St, Kitts and Nevis, The St. Lucia Diabetes & Hypertension Association (SLDHA) and The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, Saint Lucia.

The post Let’s Talk About Trans Fats and Why They Need To Go! appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.