Updates:
MANILA | This was the statement of public interest law group ImagineLaw on Wednesday as it welcomed bills filed by several members of Congress seeking to ban industrially-produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs) in the country’s food supply.
The law group said that the passage of a Trans Fat Free Philippines Law will improve Filipinos’ heart health since high intake of trans fats contributes to cardiovascular diseases, citing data from the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Trans fatty acids (TFAs) or trans fats are a toxic substance usually used by food manufacturers to prolong food products’ shelf life. TFAs are commonly-found in margarine, instant coffee, donuts, and many others.
Senators Nancy Binay, Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr., and Joel Villanueva filed Senate Bills No. 116 (co-authored with Sen. Risa Hontiveros), 1207, and 1286, respectively. The bills mandate food manufacturers to reformulate and eventually eliminate trans fatty acids or TFAs in their products.
Counterpart measures were also recently filed in the House of Representatives by Laguna First District Rep. Ann Matibag (House Bill No. 1485), Quezon Rep. Mike Tan (House Bill No. 2548), and Ang Probinsyano Partylist Rep. Alfred delos Santos (House Bill No. 4379). If passed into law, resources will also be allocated to strengthen the institutional capacity of regulatory agencies and ensure that all food sources of iTFA are removed.
“The DOH, together with the FDA and the National Nutrition Council (NNC), works to ensure that iTFA-free policies are fully implemented. We expect no less than the food industry’s full compliance to protect Filipinos’ heart health,” OIC Usec. Beverly Ho of the DOH’s Public Health Services Team said during the press conference in Quezon City that was also joined by health and nutrition groups. “Pilipinas in 2023 will be iTFA-free,” Dr. Ho added.
iTFA, a toxic fat, increases the risk of developing comorbidities and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), according to DOH. After the deadline, pre-packaged and processed food with iTFA will be banned from sale to consumers. Food products with high iTFA that need to be reformulated include margarine and instant coffee.
“After June 18, 2023, all product formulations and labels of pre-packaged processed food containing industrially-produced TFA shall be fully compliant with these guidelines, immediately thereafter, any establishment found to be in violation of any provision of the DOH Administrative Order 2021-0039 and FDA Circular 2021-028 shall be ground for disapproval and suspension or cancellation of CPR,” warned Dir. Pilar Marilyn Pagayunan of the FDA Center for Food Regulation and Research.
PBBM urged to certify Trans Fat Free Law as urgent
A week before his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., or PBBM, was also urged to effectively address heart disease in the Philippines by supporting legislation that will ban iTFA in the country’s food supply.
“Building back better means creating an environment that promotes healthy choices for Filipinos,” said Atty. Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of public interest law group ImagineLaw. “Heart disease is not only the leading cause of death for Filipinos, it also leads to more severe COVID-19 outcomes. By eliminating iTFA, we are one step closer to building a healthy and resilient Philippines”, she added
“As we strive to adapt to the new normal, President Marcos must protect the Filipinos’ health by ensuring that the Philippines becomes TFA-free,'' urged Dr. Zenaida Velasco of the Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP). “This coming SONA, we urge PBBM to include iTFA elimination as part of his priority health agenda,” she added
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