FIGURES FIGURE 1 IN THE CIS CONFIGURATION (RIGHT) CARBON CHAINS ON THE TWO SIDES OF THE DOUBLE BOND BEND TOWARDS EACH OTHER. IN THE RARER TRANS CONFIGURATION (LEFT), THE CARBON CHAIN IS ALMOST STRAIGHT 12 FIGURE 2 ESTIMATED MEAN DIETARY INTAKES OF TOTAL TFA IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 16 FIGURE 3 ESTIMATED DIETARY INTAKES: 5% AND 95% PERCENTILE COMPARED TO MEAN 16 FIGURE 4 MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FOOD GROUPS TO TOTAL TFA INTAKES FOR DIFFERENT POPULATION GROUPS: AUSTRALIA 17 FIGURE 5 MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FOOD GROUPS TO TOTAL TFA INTAKES FOR DIFFERENT POPULATION GROUPS: NEW ZEALAND 17 FIGURE 6 MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FOOD GROUPS TO TOTAL TFA INTAKES FOR DIFFERENT POPULATION GROUPS: NEW ZEALAND MAORI AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS 18 FIGURE 7 CONTRIBUTION OF TFA INTAKE FROM FOODS CLASSIFIED AS TAKE AWAY FOODS 18 FIGURE 8 CONTRIBUTION OF TFA INTAKE FROM FOODS CLASSIFIED AS DISPLAYING A FOOD LABEL 19 FIGURE 9 COMPARISON OF MEAN DIETARY INTAKES OF ENERGY FROM FATS AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE AMDR RECOMMENDATION 23 FIGURE 10 PERCENTAGE TOTAL ENERGY INTAKE PER DAY FROM TFA 23 TABLES TABLE 2A ESTIMATED INTAKES OF TFA IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA: SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED DIETARY INTAKES OF TFA 24 2B ESTIMATED INTAKES OF TFA IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA: DATA SOURCES FOR ESTIMATES OF TFA INTAKES 25 TABLE 3 RESULTS FROM ONGOING LABEL MONITORING SURVEY FOR 2002-2003 33 4 APPROACHES FOR RISK MANAGEMENT 41
Figure 9 Comparison of mean dietary intakes of energy from fats as a percentage of the AMDR recommendation Mean SFA Mean TFA 18 16 14 0.6 Total: 14% 13.4 0.7 Total: 16% Total: 16% 0.7 15.3 15.3 10 AMDR 8 6 2 & above 15 years & above 15 years & above Whole Population Whole Population Maori and Pacific Islanders Australia New Zealand New Zealand Figure 10 Percentage total energy intake per day from TFA % of daily energy intake from trans fats 3.0 2.5 2.2 2.6 2.0 WHO recommended nutrient goal 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.0 Australia (2006) New Zealand (2006) Europe(2000) Denmark (2003) Canada (2005) U.S (2006)
Table 3 Results from ongoing label monitoring survey for 2002-2003 2002 2003 Labels with NIP 359 1078 Labels with expanded NIP (fat, carbohydrate or salt) 135 (38%) 300 (28%) (a) Proportion expanded NIPs with section on fat 64 (48%) 78 (26%) (b) Proportion expanded NIPs with fat information inconsistent with Code (b/a)* 56 (88%) Nutrients (46 labels or 72%) Values (21 labels or 33%) Units (11 labels or 17%) 66 (85%) Nutrients (63 labels or 81%) Values (21 labels or 27%) Units (16 labels or 21%) (c) Proportion expanded NIPs with fat information where nutrients were inconsistent with Code because they were missing (c/a)** 16 (25%) 22 (28%) (e) Proportion expanded NIPs with fat information with TFA information missing (d/a) 16 (25%) 18 (23%) * Reasons for inconsistencies were related to nutrients, values or units, note labels can be inconsistent for more than one reason ** Other reasons for inconsistencies with nutrients were related to case used, position, wording or punctuation, note labels can be inconsistent for more than one reason Risk reduction measures Currently, there a number of ongoing risk reduction measures address the issue of TFA in the food supply. Nutritional education provided by governments and non-government organisations, the National Heart Foundation ‘Pick the Tick’ program, and a number of initiatives by industry are important measures for managing the risk of TFA in the food supply. Government initiatives The Australian and New Zealand governments address public health issues, such as fat intake, through a number of education initiatives and nutritional recommendations. The Australian to Healthy Eating provides information about the amounts and types of food that need to be eaten each day to consume a balanced diet19. The Guide recommends people avoid foods that contain too much fat. The Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults20 recommend limiting saturated fat and moderate total fat intake. In New Zealand, the Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Adults21 included a set of guideline statements. The background paper to the Guidelines states that excessive dietary fat intake, and particularly saturated fat intake, is a major health concern for adults in western countries. FSANZ has released a fact sheet on TFA22. 20 2003, Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults, Ministry of Healt
The US regulatory authorities decided not to exclude TFA derived from rumen hydrogenation from labelling requirements; consequently, dairy products must be appropriately labelled. However, TFA with conjugated bonds are not included because they do not meet the US regulatory definition of TFA, which is ‘all unsaturated fatty acids that contain one or more isolated double bonds in a trans configuration.’ New approaches to risk management in Australia and New Zealand Approaches and options Several approaches are currently used to manage the risk of TFA in the food supply. are comprised of voluntary labelling and claims, mandatory labelling, compositional restrictions or combinations of the above (Table 4). Additional approaches, such as industry initiatives, codes of practice, education and recommendations and policy initiatives are also valuable tools in managing the risks surrounding TFA intake. In Australia and New Zealand, additional measures are being introduced at the company level. Table 4 Approaches for risk management Australia and NZ EU USA Canada Denmark Voluntary labelling and/or health claims 9 9 9 9 9 Mandatory labelling 8 8 9 9 8 Mandatory compositional restrictions 8 8 8 (9)# 9 #currently under consideration The following risk management approaches, including consideration of priority areas for risk management (e.g. packaged food, take-away foods), could be considered by FSANZ as part of an assessment process: Maintain the status quo: manufacturers may voluntarily declare the TFA content of their products. TFA content must be declared when a claim in relation to cholesterol content or fatty acid profile of a food is made. Advantages: No additional to industry, no risk of consumer confusion Disadvantages: Manufactured TFA may remain in the food supply at current levels; consumers are not informed on TFA content of some foods Maintain the regulatory status quo, but develop a strategy of non-regulatory risk management measures. Advantages: Costs to industry are carefully managed; emphasis on consumer education. Disadvantages: Rate of change may be low, some sections of industry may not get involved, and consumers are not informed on TFA content of some foods.