Though many food companies have cut down on the amount of transfats they include in their food, UK public health experts have called for a total ban on the ingredient.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, scientists estimated that the solid fats, found in margarine, cakes and junk food, were responsible for a significant number of deaths each year. They estimated that were there to be a 1% reduction in UK consumption, 7,000 deaths each year could be prevented.
Transfats are added to food to improve taste and shelf life, but they do not have any nutritional value. Studies have shown that they can raise cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease.
Earlier this year, the UK facility of Public Health warned that through the average UK resident’s transfat intake only makes up 1% of their daily calorie intake, in some areas and communities, the intake is far higher, putting those groups at risk. Scientists believe that when intake exceeds 2%, the consumer is risking their health.
The Food Standards Agency currently say that as the UK’s average intake is in the safe zone, a total ban is unnecessary.
However in the article, doctors from the Harvard Medical School supported the ban, pointing to the bans in Denmark and New York City which they said had improved health without affecting taste or affordability.
Professor Alan Maryon-Davies of the UK Faculty of Public Health said that his organisation was particularly concerned by the differences in the amount of transfats consumed amongst societal groups and said that young people and those with low incomes were particularly at risk of consuming large amounts of the fats.