FDA Wants Healthier Food For America; Trans Fat Soon To Be Banned

Trans fat use in common American diet will soon be banned by the Food and Drug Administration. According to the agency’s official announcement on Tuesday, artificial trans fat is generally unsafe for human consumption.

Food manufacturers now only have three years to completely eliminate trans fat, specifically partially hydrogenated oils, from food products. According to the agency’s press release, companies can petition for special permits to use the oils, but the agency is strict in implementing the ban of hydrogenated oils in human food, unless it gives its approval.

"The FDA's action on this major source of artificial trans fat demonstrates the agency's commitment to the heart health of all Americans," said FDA acting commissioner Dr. Stephen Ostroff, in the press release. He also said that the move to ban trans fat should reduce the rate of coronary heart disease and prevent deaths from heart attack.

By 2006, food manufacturing labels were required to indicate trans fat list in labels. Since then, the agency has seen major decrease in the levels of trans fat found in American food. It was estimated that trans fat consumption went down by 78 percent in the years 2003 to 2012 following the implementation of the labelling.

Many restaurants have already adopted the trans fat ban in the years before. According to CNN, McDonald’s stopped using trans fat to cook their French fries more than ten years ago. Their menu online says that their food is trans fat-free.

The agency is encouraging everyone to cut down on trans fat consumption by checking food content stated on the label, especially for the presence of partially hydrogenated oils. According to the agency’s report, foods are currently allowed to carry a label of “0 grams trans fat” if they only have 0.5 grams of the fat for each serving.

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