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View all search resultsBillions still exposed to toxic trans-fat: WHO
Toxic fats are thought to be responsible for around 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year.
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E
fforts to eliminate industrially produced fat have a long way to go with 5 billion people exposed to toxic fat added to many food products, the United Nations health agency said on Monday.
The World Health Organization called in 2018 for harmful trans-fatty acids to be wiped out by 2023.
They are thought to be responsible for around 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year.
Although 43 countries with combined populations of 2.8 billion people have now implemented best-practice policies, most of the world remains unprotected, it said. The WHO acknowledged in an annual progress report that the goal was still out of sight.
Industrially produced trans fat is often used in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads.
"Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
"By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health," he said.
