FSSAI, the vertex authority formulating all the adulteration and compliance laws, has now stated new prohibitions on the sale of food products containing trans Fatty acids above the prescribed limit under Food Safety and Standards Regulations.
The apex food regulator has notified regulations called the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Second Amendment Regulations, 2021, in this regard. This regulation, comprises newer phrases and clauses regarding sales.
The notified regulations say that “Industrial trans fatty acids” means all the geometrical isomers of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids having non-conjugated, interrupted by at least one methylene group, carbon=carbon double bonds in the trans configuration.
However, “It excludes trans-fatty acids from dairy, meat, fish and their products,” reads the regulation.
Further, the notified regulations add that in Section 2.3, Sub-Section 2.3.14 related to restrictions relating to conditions for sale, another clause is added specifying the condition for trans fatty acids.
It says, “Food products in which edible oils and fats are used as an ingredient shall not contain industrial trans fatty acids more than 2% by mass of the total oils/fats present in the product, on and from 01st January, 2022.”
Prior to this Regulations, FSSAI regulated the limit of Trans Fatty acids in a separate notification. This time FBOs are being asked to fall in concordance till Jan, 2022.
Trans Fatty acids are a kind of fatty acids that are responsible for several ailments, it generally reduces High density cholesterol (good) and increases low density cholesterol (bad) in the body, that may deposit in intravascular surface of arteries. People often regard it as “Double trouble” for the heart and liver.
