Lok Sabha Question No. 3266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Awareness on Trans-fat and Labelling of Food Products
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kirron  Kher, Pankaj Chowdhary, D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3266 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH MARCH, 2020

## AWARENESS ON TRANS - FAT AND LABELLING OF FOOD PRODUCTS

## 3266. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER: SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY: SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether World Health Organisation (WHO) has released any report on the adverse impact of trans - fat on human health and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measures  to  educate  the  consumers  on  th harmful/adverse effects of trans -fat on human health and a bout nutrition value and labelling of food products during purchase; and

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the amount allocated and utilised for the purp the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) : Yes.  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  has  informed  that  it reported by World Health Organisation (WHO) that increased intake of Trans -Fatty Acids (TFA) (>1% of total energy intake) is associated with increased risk of Coronary Heart Disease events and mortality. Globally, more than 5,00,000 deaths in 2010 were attributed to in intake of TFA .
- (b)& (c): FSSAI has taken steps to create awareness about the adverse health effects of fats through regulations and multi - media campaign. Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 specify that every package of edible oil, edible fa ts, interesterified vegetable  fat,  hydrogenated  and  partially  hydrogenated  oils,  margarine  and  fat  spread package of food in which fats, oils and fat emulsions is used as an ingredient shall de quantity of trans fat content and saturated fat contents on the label.

Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Advertising  and  Claims)  Regulations,  2018  specify  th 'trans -fat free' claim can be made by Food Business Operators, in case where the trans - fat is less than 0.2 grams per 100 g or 100 ml of food. Accordin g to instructions issued by FSSAI on 22 nd July,  2019, the food establishments meeting this requirement can voluntarily display 'trans - fat free' logo in their outlets and on their food products.

A  30  second  audio -visual  public  service  announcement  'Heart  Attack  Rewind'  in English, Hindi and 15 regional languages was played for 4 weeks on radio, various social/ media platforms  and  through publicity on bill boards  to create awareness on trans fa adverse  health  effects  thereby    reducing    the acceptability  of  artificial  trans  fat  in  foods Social/digital media campaign has reached a large number of people.     Information i available on FSSAI website i.e. www.fssai.gov.in and more than 100 thousa nd views visited the page.

During Swasth Bharat Yatra, a Pan -India cyclothon held during October, 2018 - January, 2019  with  aim  to  engage  citizens  on  issues  of  food  safety,  combating  food  adulteratio promoting healthy diets. Message on trans - fat was al so conveyed throughout the Yatra. 'Heart Attack rewind' was also played  in regional languages. The message of Yatra reached over 25 million people. The stakeholders across the country including consumers are being made a &  educated  about  the  various  a spects  of  food  safety  &  hygiene  including  trans - fat,  food labelling, nutritional information and other food  safety related issues  through communication platforms, print, outdoor, digital & social media, videos, flyers, brochu booklets, stall s at fairs/melas/events and mass awareness campaigns etc.

There is no specific budget earmarked and allocated exclusively for trans -fat awareness. However,  awareness  on  trans - fat  is  one  of  the  key  messages  included  in  various  awareness campaigns to prom ote food safety and hygiene and healthy diets.

………………