ABSTRACT
O consumo de gordura trans é comprovadamente prejudicial à saúde humana. Esse lipídio é encontrado principalmente na gordura vegetal parcialmente hidrogenada, amplamente utilizada em alimentos industrializados. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar publicações oficiais sobre o limite máximo de consumo de gordura trans e sua regulamentação de notificação obrigatória na rotulagem nutricional de alimentos industrializados brasileiros. Foram constatadas fragilidades no conteúdo dos documentos analisados, sobretudo a necessidade de reformulação, tanto na recomendação máxima de consumo quanto na notificação da gordura trans na rotulagem nutricional dos alimentos industrializados. São feitas sugestões para essa reformulação, com as quais se busca auxiliar o consumidor no controle de ingestão de gordura trans e, consequentemente, na promoção da saúde.
Consumption of trans fat has been proven to be harmful to human health. This lipid is found mainly in partially hydrogenated vegetable fat, which is widely used in processed foods. The aim of this study was to analyze official publications on maximum limits for consumption of trans fat and the regulations for its mandatory notification on the nutritional labeling of processed foods in Brazil. Weaknesses in the content of the documents analyzed were found, especially regarding the need for reformulation of both the maximum recommended consumption and the notification of trans fat on nutritional labeling for processed foods. This paper makes suggestions for this reformulation, through which it is sought to help consumers in controlling their trans fat intake and, consequently, in promotion of health.
El consumo de grasas trans es comprobadamente perjudicial para la salud humana. Este lípido es encontrado fundamentalmente en la grasa vegetal parcialmente hidrogenada, ampliamente utilizada en alimentos industrializados. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar publicaciones oficiales sobre el límite máximo de consumo de grasas trans y su regulación de notificación obligatoria en la rotulación nutricional de alimentos industrializados brasileños. Se constataron fragilidades en el contenido de los documentos analizados, principalmente la necesidad de reformulación, tanto en la recomendación máxima de consumo como en la notificación de la grasa trans en la rotulación nutricional de los alimentos industrializados. Se hicieron sugerencias para la reformulación, con las cuales se busca ayudar al consumidor en el control de ingestión de grasas trans y, consecuentemente, en la promoción de la salud.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dietary Fats/analysis , Food Analysis/legislation & jurisprudence , Food Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence , Trans Fatty Acids/analysis , Brazil , Consumer Health Information , Dietary Fats/standards , Food Analysis/standards , Food Labeling/standards , Industrialized Foods , Trans Fatty Acids/standardsABSTRACT
As part of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Trans-Fat-Free Americas initiative, 12 representatives from food industries in Latin America and the Caribbean signed a declaration stating their intention to voluntarily eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA) from the Americas. A year later, in order to document the extent of the voluntary reduction, each declarant was asked to describe all reformulations and reductions in the TFA content of their products. After up to six requests for data, only three declarants provided such information in detail, and three others offered an overall summary of their reformulations. Additionally, three declarants reported the barriers that limit this process: availability of oil substitutes, cost, and consumers' sensory acceptance. The content of TFA and saturated fat in the food supply in the Americas should be regulated and strictly monitored in order to adequately evaluate a reduction of TFA in the region.
Como parte de la iniciativa "Las Américas sin grasas trans" de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud/Organización Mundial de la Salud, 12 representantes de empresas alimentarias de América Latina y el Caribe firmaron una declaración en la que se comprometieron a eliminar voluntariamente los ácidos grasos trans (AGT) de los alimentos producidos industrialmente. Un año después, a fin de verificar el progreso en este sentido, se solicitó a cada firmante que describiera todas las reformulaciones y la disminución del contenido de AGT de sus productos. Después de solicitar los datos hasta seis veces en algunos casos, solo tres de las empresas firmantes suministraron información detallada y otras tres ofrecieron un resumen general de las distintas reformulaciones incorporadas. Además, tres proporcionaron información acerca de los obstáculos que dificultan este proceso: la disponibilidad de sucedáneos del aceite, el costo y la aceptación de los consumidores. Es preciso reglamentar y vigilar con rigurosidad el contenido de AGT y grasas saturadas de los alimentos comercializados en la Región de las Américas con el fin de efectuar un seguimiento adecuado de la disminución de los AGT.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dietary Fats , Food Industry , Food Supply/standards , Trans Fatty Acids , Voluntary Programs , Caribbean Region , Consumer Behavior , Coronary Disease/etiology , Coronary Disease/prevention & control , Dietary Fats/standards , Food Analysis , Food Industry/economics , Food Industry/organization & administration , Health Promotion , Latin America , Public Health , Surveys and Questionnaires , Trans Fatty Acids/adverse effects , Voluntary Programs/statistics & numerical data , Voluntary Programs/trendsABSTRACT
To boost the edible oil production and attain self-sufficiency, one of the long-term strategies undertaken by the Indian government is promotion of palm oil production through oil palm cultivation. Compared to other traditional oils (except coconut oil) used in India, palm oil and palmolein have high saturated fatty acids and low linoleic acid levels. Studies conducted to evaluate the nutritional and health implications of substituting other oils with palmolein show that despite having low linoleic acid, the use of palm oil may not adversely affect the linoleic acid status of Indian population. Substitution of groundnut oil with palmolein in cereal based lactovegetarian diets providing about 30 per cent total fat calories, doubles the saturated fatty acids and reduces by half the linoleic acid content. The effects of this substitution in volunteers from the middle income group did not raise serum cholesterol and aggregability of platelets indicating that palm oil may not produce the deleterious effects associated with saturated fatty acids. The tocols present in palm oil are natural biological antioxidants and can therefore augment the antioxidant potential of Indian diets. Red palm oil is the richest natural source of carotenes which are powerful biological antioxidants. The major carotene in red palm oil is beta-carotene. Therefore, red palm oil can be used to prevent vitamin A deficiency which is widespread in India.