From Marion Nestlé, here's a summary, of sorts, of the events leading to the FDA's recent proposal re trans fatty acids.

Think about this-- does the FDA proposal apply to all food in the US food supply, or just food processed in the US?  Just sold in the US?

Food Politics<http://www.foodpolitics.com>

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Trans-fat: FDA proposes to eliminate GRAS status<http://www.foodpolitics.com/2013/11/trans-fat-fda-proposes-to-eliminate-gras-status/>

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 06:37 AM PST

The FDA has just announced<http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm372915.htm> a proposal to withdraw GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe)<http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/> status for trans-fat.

My first reaction: Isn’t trans-fat already out of the food supply?  Hasn’t this been one of the food industry’s greatest public health achievements?

Once the FDA started to require trans-fat to be listed on food labels, food companies quickly stopped using partially hydrogenated oils (the source of trans-fat) and found healthier substitutes.  That’s why most food labels list zero grams trans-fat.

But the FDA allows food labels to say zero trans-fat if its amount is below 0.5 gram per serving.

Some manufacturers are still using a little.  This new initiative will encourage them to get rid of those last little bits.

Contrary to the New York Times headline<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/health/fda-trans-fats.html?_r=0>, this is not exactly a ban on trans-fat.  If trans-fat is no longer GRAS, manufacturers can still file a food additive petition to continue using partially hydrogenated oils.

The Federal Register notice asks for input for the next 60 days.

I say congratulations to all:

  *   To food companies who worked hard to find ways to substitute healthier fats for trans-fats.
  *   To the FDA for finally taking care of the trans-fat 0.5-gram loophole.
  *   To Center for Science in the Public Interest for bringing health problems with trans-fat to public attention.
  *   To all of the researchers who did the science linking trans-fat to higher LDL-cholesterol levels and to heart disease risk.
  *   To the New York City health department for banning trans-fats from use in city restaurants.

Americans will be healthier as a result of all of your efforts.

Resources

At the moment, the FDA has not yet posted its Federal Register notice on the GRAS status of trans-fat. When it does, the notice should be available here<https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/11/08/2013-26854/request-for-comments-and-for-scientific-data-and-information-tentative-determination-regarding?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery>.

CSPI’s home page on trans fat<http://www.cspinet.org/transfat/>

The FDA trans-fat home page<http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm292278.htm>

FDA consumer materials

  *   Talking About Trans Fat: What You Need to Know<http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/ucm079609.htm>
  *   What are the different types of fat that a food can contain? How are they different?<http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm194310.htm>
  *   Trans Fat Now Listed With Saturated Fat and Cholesterol (Including Examples of Nutrition Labels)<http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/ucm274590.htm>

FDA guidance for industry

  *   Guidance for Industry: Trans Fatty Acids in Nutrition Labeling, Nutrient Content Claims, Health Claims; Small Entity Compliance Guide<http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm053479.htm>
  *   Federal Register – 2003 Food Labeling rule on trans-fat (68 FR 41434)<https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2003/07/11/03-17525/food-labeling-trans>
  *   Health Claim Notification for Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Trans Fat, and Reduced Risk of Heart Disease<http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/ucm073621.htm>

Research

  *   FDA Health and Diet Survey – 2004 Supplement – Fats and Carbs – A Snapshot of Consumer Knowledge from a Recent FDA Survey<http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/ConsumerBehaviorResearch/ucm188573.htm>
  *   Trans Fat Basics (CDC)<http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/fat/transfat.html>
  *   Updated Estimate of Trans Fat intake by the U.S. population<http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19440049.2012.664570>, 2012


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