Policy recommendations to address fat intake | Knowledge for policy

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

Dietary Fats

Examples of policy recommendations to address fat intake

Restrict or eliminate choice^a
WHO 2013 , WHO 2014 (pdf) , WHO 2018 Ban or virtually eliminate trans fats from the food supply, with a view to making the European Region trans-fat-free' – a generalised ban would eliminate the concern about potential high TFA intakes in the most vulnerable groups; however care should be taken that the removal of TFA results in improved nutritional quality, e.g. no increase of SFA. 'Limit saturated fatty acids and eliminate industrially produced trans fats in foods' and replace them with unsaturated fatty acids. Develop national standards to limit the use of palm and coconut oil in the food industry. ensure lower SFA content of dairy products. in 2018, WHO released a step-by-step guide (REPLACE) for elimination of iTFAs across the global food chain, containing six strategic actions, including introduction of legislation to eliminate iTFAs as well as the necessary enforcement measures.
EC 2015a (pdf) A European Commission report to the European Parliament suggests that 'a legal limit for industrial TFA content would be the most effective measure in terms of public health, consumer protection and compatibility with the internal market'.
ESC 2016
'Legislation on composition of foods to reduce energy density, salt and saturated fat, and (added) sugar content of foods and beverages, and to limit portion sizes is recommended'. 'Elimination of industrially produced trans fats is recommended'.
AHA 2010 (pdf) 'supports regulatory and legislative efforts to reduce trans (partially-hydrogenated) fats in the food supply, including foods available in restaurants and school meal programs'.

Guide Choice through (dis)incentives^a
WHO 2013 Ensure semi-skimmed (1.0-1.8% fat) milk is sold to consumers at a lower price than full cream milk. 'Reconsider policies to assist the production of fats and oils so that varieties with lower SFA content are made more economically viable'. 'Reconsider social support policies (e.g. subsidies to food purchases) to favour oils and fats with low SFA'. 'Consider establishing a differential taxation system so that the consumer price of products with a reduced SFA content is lower than the same products with a higher SFA content'. Limit import of palm oil by changing import duties.
ESC 2016 'Taxes on foods and beverages rich in sugar and saturated fat, and on alcoholic drinks are recommended'.
AHA 2010 (pdf) Subsidize production of trans-fat free oils.

Enable or guide choice through changing defaults^a
WHO 2013a , WHO 2014 (pdf) , WHO 2018 , WHO 2013b (pdf) 'Develop policy measures that engage food retailers and caterers to improve the availability, affordability and acceptability of healthier food products […] with reduced content of […] saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids'. Promote the implementation of the WHO Set of Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Non-alcoholic Beverages to Children, including foods that are high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids…'. 'Adopt strong measures that reduce the overall impact on children of all forms of marketing of foods high in energy, saturated fats, trans fats, sugar or salt'. Ensure that government establishments provide only semi-skimmed (1.0–1.8% fat) milk, and foods purchased by them comply with SFA content standards. 'Negotiate and review standards for livestock to reduce SFA content of meats through changes in feed and husbandry systems'. 'Study measures to favour import of fats, oils and processed foods containing less SFA over import of such items with higher SFA content'. 'Negotiate and review standards for vegetable oils and ghee such that total SFA content is less than 10%'. Encourage replacement of high SFA palm and coconut oils with oils such as corn, soya, olive or sunflower oils, e.g. in government subsidy schemes.
ESC 2016 'Legislation restricting marketing aimed at children of foods that are high in fats, sugar and/or salt, less healthy options, junk foods, drinks with alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages rich in sugar (e.g. on TV, internet, social media and on food packages) is recommended'.
DGAC 2015 Implement the USDA comprehensive school meal guidelines (National School Lunch Program) which recommend limiting sugar, salt, saturated and trans fats. The DGAC encourages the food industry 'to continue to reformulate and make changes to improve the nutrition profile of certain foods', including achieving lower SFA to PUFA ratio.
AHA 2010 (pdf) 'supports state and federal legislation and regulation that addresses nutrition standards […] with limited intake of industrially-produced trans fats'. When removing iTFA from the food supply, provide healthy alternatives to assure that there isn’t a rise in unhealthy replacement fats/oils and concomitant increase in saturated fat consumption. 'AHA supports laws and regulations that encourage the availability, affordability, and appropriate distribution of fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, fish (especially fatty fish) and low-fat dairy products'.

Provide Information^a
WHO 2013 , WHO 2018 'Establish mandatory labelling schemes for SFA content that are easily understandable for most consumers (e.g. traffic light system) and/or consider the establishment of a 'low SFA' label'. 'Adequately inform consumers of the importance of reduction of SFA in diets and of the measures taken to support these goals, and engage civil society organizations in supporting the measures taken'. in 2018, WHO released a step-by-step guide (REPLACE) for elimination of iTFAs across the global food chain, containing six strategic actions, including create awareness of iTFA health impacts among policy makers, food suppliers and the general public.
DGAC 2015 Improve, standardise and implement Nutrition Facts labels and Front of Package labels to help consumers, for example implement the nutritional points system FOP labelling for added sugars, sodium and saturated fats, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine. Mount public education campaigns to increase the public’s awareness of the health effects of excess saturated fat.
AHA 2010 (pdf) '…practical guidance around food preparation, and education to consumers, school food service staff and the restaurant industry should be incorporated into advocacy efforts' to reduce consumption if iTFA. Improve food labelling to help consumers make healthy point-of-purchase decisions, for example on issues such as trans-fat. provide calorie information on menus and menu boards at point-of-purchase with additional information regarding, for example, trans fats.

Monitor^a
WHO 2018 in 2018, WHO released a step-by-step guide (REPLACE) for elimination of iTFAs across the global food chain, containing six strategic actions, including: Review dietary resources of iTFAs. Assess and monitor TFA content in the food supply.

^a Based on the Nuffield intervention ladder as described in

Was this page useful?