Author Description

The current guideline for the consumption of trans fatty acids (trans FA) is that they should not exceed 2% of food energy. Due to health concerns, the Food Standards Agency was asked to consider the case for a reduction in this recommendation to less than 1% and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has thus tasked with examining recent scientific evidence on the health effects of trans FA. It concludes that there is consistent evidence to support a moderate effect of trans FA on increasing the risk of coronary heart disease but evidence related to other diseases is limited and no reliable risk assessment can be made. There is however no firm scientific basis for a change in the current recommendation of not exceeding 2% of food energy. There is also insufficient evidence to justify the differentiation of trans FA from vegetable oil and animal sources.