Thursday, 07 June 2018
Trans Fatty Acid Content in Processed Food Products in Ireland
Fats are essential for health and their consumption allows the human body to store energy, absorb fat-soluble vitamins and supply essential fatty acids. However, it is important to control the overall fat intake in the diet as well as the intake of specific fats that are less healthy than other forms of fat.
There is, however, broad scientific consensus that high intake of TFA is a risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease and may also be associated with increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
During June 2016 the FSAI collected 240 branded and private label processed food products across all major supermarkets in Ireland. The samples comprised a cross-section of products grouped into 15 product categories.
The survey indicated that overall levels of trans fatty acid in processed food products in Ireland are low and continue to decrease, with 97.5% of products having ≤2% TFA as a percentage of total fat.
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