Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Commission Daily News, 7 December 2018
Today, in the context of a Standing Committee, Member States endorsed Commission's proposal to set a maximum limit on the use of industrially produced trans-fat in foods in the EU. The measure aims at protecting consumers' health and promoting healthier food options to Europeans.
Over the years, a number of scientific studies, including a recent one from European Food Safety Authority, have stressed that the dietary intakes of trans fatty acids should be as low as possible in order to avoid health risks. Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, in charge of Health and Food Safety, welcomed the outcome of the vote, stressing that: "the increasingly high intake of trans fats has been a great concern for doctors, such as myself, for many years, and numerous scientific studies have shown that something had to be done about it. Today's favourable vote is a step forward since it will lead to concrete actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans fats, for the benefits of the EU citizens. Following the Parliament exam of the text, I look forward to a final adoption of the Regulation by spring 2019'.
The maximum limit set today corresponds to 2 grams of trans fats per 100 grams of fat in the food intended for the final consumer. The European Parliament has now two months to examine the draft Regulation.
For a related news item, see: 7 December 2018 NUTRITION - EU moves closer to long-awaited limit to heart-clogging trans fat
For more details, including access to the Commission proposal, see: 4 October 2018 NUTRITION - Comission consultation: industrial trans fats in foods – setting a legal limit
