FNB News - 61% rural & 46% urban consumers unaware of harms of trans fats: Survey

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61% rural & 46% urban consumers unaware of harms of trans fats: Survey

Tuesday, 29 September, 2020, 13 : 00 PM [IST]

Our Bureau, Mumbai

In rural Rajasthan, Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) are on the rise during the pandemic. However, 61 per cent of rural and 46 per cent of urban consumers surveyed are unaware of the health harms of trans fats, which mainly contribute to the increase in CVDs. These key findings emerged out of a sample survey carried out by CUTS International in rural and urban areas of selected 12 districts of Rajasthan to check the awareness level of common consumers.

Only 8 per cent of rural and 21 per cent urban consumers have heard the term trans fats. The survey made a specific observation that the awareness level of consumers was little higher when the correlation of trans fats was made with Dalda, which is a brand name of vansapati ghee. Mostly the consumers came to know about the trans fats from packaged labels and newspapers.

Only 21 per cent rural and 43 per cent urban consumers were aware about the source of trans fats. It was observed that most of the consumers are aware about vegetable ghee but not much consumers were aware about margarine and bakery shortenings. Only 39 per cent (rural) and 54 per cent (urban) consumers are aware about the health harms of vegetable ghee, trans fats and so on. Surprisingly the consumption of industrially produced Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (PHVOs) has increased by 19 per cent, from its pre lockdown level, whereas in urban areas such consumption had reduced by 16 per cent.

Only 18 per cent (rural) and 46 per cent (urban) consumers know the role of FSSAI as a regulator in forming the regulations, regulating the food manufacturers and limits of trans fats in fats, oils and food. Only 4 per cent (rural) and 11 per cent (urban) consumers know about the 5 per cent limit of trans fats in fats and oils. None of the rural consumers were aware of the regulations related to trans fats, but only 6 per cent of urban consumer know there are regulations related to trans fats.

Around 74 per cent (rural) and 89 per cent (urban) consumers supported the move of eliminating trans fats from all fats, oils and foods by 2022 from India after hearing the health harms of the same. Some of the rural and urban consumers were apprehensive about implementation of such elimination regulations by concerned authorities therefore denied to lend their support.

The company is a well known international consumer research and advocacy organisation, which is working on an advocacy campaign at national level to eliminate trans fats by 2022 and was part of Central Advisory Committee of FSSAI to guide it for effective regulation on trans fats till recently. The survey by CUTS was done in the backdrop of recently launched second progress report on global trans fats elimination 2023 by WHO, which highlights the current global, regional and national situations and progress over the past year in countries; and discusses challenges and opportunities for future action. WHO report underscores the need for notifying all the regulations related to limiting the quantity of trans fats in fats, oils and foods in India without any delay to mark its commitment for eliminating industrially produced trans fats from food supply by 2022.

George Cheriyan, director, CUTS International, said, “Trans fats intake is responsible for the increased CVDs. In the time of pandemic, people with comorbidity and preexisting Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are more vulnerable and at higher risk of getting infected by the Covid-19 virus. Even in normal situation, 61 per cent of total deaths in India annually are attributed to NCDs. For every 2 per cent energy of TFA consumption, the risk of heart attack or death from heart disease is increased by 25 per cent. Hence advocacy and efforts for Elimination of Trans fats from India is crucial.”

Referring to the finding of the survey, he added, “Eliminating trans fats from the Indian food supply by 2022 can save around 3 million lives by reducing cardiovascular diseases and more than 75, 000 premature deaths can be prevented in India each year. Therefore, there is an urgent need to notify all the pending regulations by FSSAI without any delay.”

The commitment of Government of India towards eliminating Trans Fats by 2022 needs to be true during this Covid-19 pandemic, when the consumer choices have become unhealthy especially in rural areas during the pandemic, according to Madhu Sudan Sharma, senior programme officer, CUTS International, who coordinated the online survey. He stated that though the urban consumer’s choices are smarter and healthier in this pandemic, but the overall low consumer awareness about trans fats, its ill-effects and sources need to be increased.