London - Dangerous trans fats should be banned from all processed food, leading scientists say.
Forcing food manufacturers and restaurants to act would save 7 200 lives over the next five years in England alone, they calculate.
Writing the British Medical Journal, academics from Oxford, Liverpool and Lancaster universities say that a total ban is “technically feasible” and simply requires “decisive action”.
Artificial trans fats are made from plant oils which are partially hydrogenated to make them more solid. They are used in some margarine, crisps, sweets, biscuits and cooking oil to improve taste, texture and shelf-life.
But experts have long warned the fats substantially increase the risk of heart disease and death.
The Daily Mail has been campaigning for more than a decade to highlight the threat. As a result, brands including Mars, Kellogg’s and McDonalds, have changed their recipes.
Trans fat consumption has plummeted from 2.1 percent of average energy intake in 1985, to an estimated 0.7 percent by 2012.
But the study says that further action is needed. Using data from the 2008 to 2012 National Diet and Nutrition Survey, the scientists calculate the costs and impact of different potential changes to public health policy.
They conclude that restricting trans fat use in restaurants would save 1 800 lives between 2015 and 2020 by reducing the number of heart attacks and strokes.
Banning them in fast food outlets would save 2 600 lives, and insisting on clearer labelling would save between 2 200 and 3 500. But an all-out ban, would have double the benefit of any of the other options, according to the calculations. The British government has repeatedly refused to follow suit instead relying on their voluntary “responsibility deal” with food manufacturers.
However, the authors of the research write: “Continuing to rely on industry cooperation via the responsibility deal might be insufficient.”
They said that even after the costs of reformulating food is taken into account, a ban would save the economy £64-million in health costs.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We recognise that tackling obesity and helping people live healthier lifestyles is critical which is why we are committed to publishing our childhood obesity strategy later this year.”
Daily Mail