Latest news with #transfat
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
India rolls out health warnings for popular Indian street foods like samosas and jalebis
The Indian government is poised to roll out health warnings for beloved Indian snacks such as samosas and jalebis to highlight their hidden oil, sugar, and trans-fat content. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has identified 14 snack items, including popular Indian street snacks like samosas, pakodas (fritters), vada pav (a spiced potato patty sandwiched in a bread roll), and some varieties of biscuits, which will be accompanied by clear cautionary notices in cafeterias and public venues, according to a Times of India report. While some media reports stated that the food items itself would carry warning labels, the Union health ministry clarified in a statement that their advisory focused on 'display of boards' and was aimed as a 'behavioural nudge to make people aware about hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products and not specifically to any particular food product'. The initiative, which has already begun rolling out in cafeterias of state-run facilities like AIIMS Nagpur, comes amid growing concern over India's escalating lifestyle disease burden. Health experts, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition have reportedly backed the initiative, stating that it supports a larger effort to combat India's growing epidemic of non‑communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. 'It's the beginning of food labelling becoming as serious as cigarette warnings. Sugar and trans fats are the new tobacco. People deserve to know what they're eating,' cardiologist Dr Amar Amale, head of the Nagpur chapter of the Cardiological Society of India, told the Times of India. Dr Rajiv Kovil, head of diabetology at Zandra Healthcare, told IndiaTimes: 'These high-calorie snacks contribute to obesity, which is a gateway to numerous chronic conditions '. He added that they also lead to excessive calorie intake with minimal nutritional value, as well as worsen digestive problems, raise the risk of fatty liver and insulin resistance, and contribute to cognitive decline, mood disorders, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and an overall weakened immune system. According to the International Diabetes Federation, over 77 million Indians live with type 2 diabetes, or roughly 9 per cent of adults, with diabetes-related complications accounting for nearly 2 per cent of all deaths annually. A Chennai-based study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that individuals consuming high levels of refined grains, like those used in samosas and jalebis, were nearly eight times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, which includes risk factors such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity. At the same time, the World Health Organization has flagged trans fats, a common component of Indian street foods, as responsible for over 77,000 cardiovascular deaths each year in India. However, the move has met with significant criticism from nutritionists who have argued that this campaign unfairly targets traditional Indian foods. Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, who has long championed indigenous food instead of Western alternatives, posted a message on her social media questioning why processed snacks continue to be eaten without warning. 'Tobacco is an independent risk factor. It harms irrespective of environment and lifestyle. There is ample proof of that. Samosa and jalebi ne aap ka kya bigada hai? ( What have samosas and jalebis done to deserve this?) If we are serious about health warnings – colas, chips, cookies etc. must get them first. Regulate and tax big food,' she wrote. 'Ultra-processed food products are the real problem. And there is ample proof of that, too,' Diwekar added in her caption. Milind Deora, MP, in a post on social media platform X noted that the Parliamentary Subordinate Legislation Committee is currently reviewing food regulator FSSAI's plans to tackle India's growing obesity crisis. 'We have unanimously advocated uniform regulations across all food categories, including alcohol, so Indian food isn't unfairly targeted while MNCs continue to market Western junk unchecked'. Former parliamentarian Milind Deora also criticised the government's focus in a post on X, formerly Twitter, urging a level playing field so that 'Indian food isn't unfairly targeted while MNCs continue to market Western junk unchecked'. Reactions from Indians have been mixed; while some see the warnings as overdue, others have questioned whether the signs will truly change eating habits or serve to stigmatise comfort foods. 'Let's also have them on packaged foods, processed foods, pizzas, burgers, cold storage meats, chips, soft drinks, etc?' wrote writer Kiran Manral. 'You don't eat jalebis and samosas for health. You indulge for delight unlike alcohol or cigarettes or pan masala. While former are indulgences (not necessarily healthy), they don't fit into the same category as products that require health warnings,' wrote a person on X.
National Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Cargill Earns #1 Global Ranking for Removing Trans Fats From Edible Oils Portfolio
Article content Article content WAYZATA, Minn. — Cargill earned the top spot on the inaugural Edible Oil Supplier Index 2025, published by global nonprofit Access to Nutrition initiative (ATNi). The ranking recognizes the company's leadership in removing industrially produced trans-fatty acids* (iTFAs) from its entire edible oils portfolio, even in markets with no regulatory mandate. Article content Cargill's leadership in this space has made a tangible difference for customers and consumers around the world. Chantilly, a cherished brand in Mexico known for its bakery, pastry and confectionery products, is a standout example. The company credits Cargill as a key ally in helping remove iTFAs from its popular whipping cream recipes. Article content 'Cargill provided the expertise and technology needed to solve crucial challenges such as maintaining the taste and texture our consumers and operators expect, while preserving the functionality suitable for various culinary applications,' said Miriam Leticia Rodriguez Chigora, R&D leader, Chantilly. 'It not only highlights Cargill's ability to provide technical support and innovative solutions but also its commitment to consumer health and regulatory compliance.' Article content These efforts are part of what ATNi evaluated in its first-ever ranking of the eight largest edible oil suppliers. The international nutrition organization assessed the companies on 19 indicators across four categories. Cargill earned the highest overall score, 81.4%, leading across all assessment areas, with the second-highest scoring company achieving just 14.2%. Article content This recognition builds on a major milestone reached in January 2024, when Cargill became the first — and still only known — global edible oil supplier whose entire portfolio complies with the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended limit of no more than two grams of iTFAs per 100 grams of fats and oils in food products — a threshold set to protect public health. Article content Cargill's journey began years earlier, well ahead of the WHO's 2018 REPLACE initiative, which called for the global elimination of industrial trans fats. The company invested millions in capital upgrades, committed thousands of R&D hours and helped hundreds of customers reformulate products. To date, Cargill has helped remove more than 1.5 billion pounds of products containing iTFAs from the global food chain. Article content 'Being recognized by ATNi reinforces our responsibility to lead with purpose — delivering safe, sustainable nutrition through the food and ingredient solutions we provide,' said David VandenEinde, Vice President of R&D for Food North America, Cargill. 'This achievement is the result of decades of innovation, close collaboration with customers like Chantilly, and investment in improved edible oil solutions. We will remain fully engaged with food manufacturers and related stakeholders, working together to help pave the way for a healthier and more resilient global food supply.' Article content According to the WHO's 2024 progress report, as of the end of 2023, only 53 of the world's 195 countries — covering just 46% of the global population — had adopted one of WHO's best practice policies to limit iTFA in foods. That reality puts added meaning to ATNi's call for other suppliers to 'follow Cargill by example.' The company not only drove change within its own operations and with its customers, but it has also worked as a catalyst for global change, actively collaborating with health organizations to share expertise and support policy development in markets where iTFA regulations are still emerging. Article content # # # Article content *Industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs) are created during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils but can also be formed by high thermal treatment during edible oil refining. At high levels of consumption, they have been linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease and mortality, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to recommend eliminating iTFAs from global food supplies. Article content Cargill is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
