Elimination of Trans-Fats in India

Project Background

The project aims for legislative reforms related to trans-fats in India based on the people’s participation and ground level evidences. Project also aims to expedite the legislative amendment processed related to trans-fats and ensuring to achieve the given deadlines of trans-fats elimination through bottom-up demand of common consumers. Under the project the key stakeholder Central Ministries are Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW), Ministries of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Consumer Affairs etc. which are directly connected with the subject.

The purpose to start an advocacy project on elimination of trans-fats is primarily to save the huge number of common consumers of Trans-fats and around 2.5 Million common consumers who are being diagnosed with some or the other lifestyles disease with major contribution of food being consumed with unknown harmful effects. At present, the fancy and attractive marketing techniques used by industries to increase customers for their food products which are not very healthy is leading to confusion amongst consumers about what is actually healthy and what is not. The achievement of objective of elimination of trans-fats from our traditional and modern diets can save on huge demographic potential, reduce expenditure on medical treatments, and restrict the increasing trend of CVD in the country therefore timely implementation of 2% TFA limit by 2022 by very crucial. The ongoing advocacy for early notification of Labeling and Display Regulations for packaged food products by CUTS International will be continued during the project period as well.
The duration of the project is of 12 months.

Purpose of the Project:

• To save lives of more than 2.1 millions of people who are affected by Cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) and are vulnerable due to consumption of trans-fats in India.
• Engaging with the concerned central government agencies and key stakeholders to ensure achieving the target of eliminating the Trans Fats by 2022.
• Earliest notification of Food Safety and Standards(Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 and amendment of Food Safety and Standards((Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011
• Generating awareness about healthy eating habits and giving voice to consumers to demand for their right to safe and healthy food.

Objectives of the Project:

• Strengthening the TFA related provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Promoting earliest notification of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 and promoting effective implementation of the both.
• Empowering common consumers to generate public demand to support 2% TFA limit adoption and implementation at the earliest.