Trans fats, particularly those produced industrially, have been a significant health concern globally, and the Caribbean region is no exception. These harmful compounds, created through the partial hydrogenation of liquid vegetable oils, are known to increase the risk of coronary heart disease and other non-communicable diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that industrially produced trans fats (iTFA) are responsible for up to 500,000 deaths annually, making their elimination a critical public health priority.

In 2022, CARICOM member states made a commitment to remove industrially produced trans fats from their food supply by December 2025. This commitment is a follow-up to the 2007 Port of Spain Declaration on non-communicable diseases, which expressed strong support for eliminating trans fats from citizens’ diets. The CARICOM Ministers of Trade and Health further solidified this commitment by promising to enact legislation by December 2024 to achieve this goal.

Implementing effective regulations is crucial in the fight against trans fats. Governments in the Caribbean region are being urged to limit industrially produced trans fats to no more than 2% of the total fat in all food products or to ban partially hydrogenated oils altogether. Such policies have already been successfully implemented in 58 countries worldwide, covering 3.7 billion people, and have shown promising results in reducing health risks associated with trans fat consumption.

Public awareness and civil society advocacy play pivotal roles in pushing policymakers to action. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) and other partners, has launched initiatives aimed at building public support and urging policymakers to enact the necessary regulations. These efforts include working with key regional and national partners to raise awareness and build momentum for the elimination of partially hydrogenated oils from the food supply.

One of the significant challenges in eliminating trans fats is the difficulty in detecting them in food products. Trans fats are not always listed on nutrition labels, and their presence in street or restaurant food can be particularly hard to identify. A study in Jamaica revealed that almost 34% of commonly consumed foods contained trans fats, and about half of the products claiming to be trans fat-free actually contained them. This underscores the need for robust policies rather than relying solely on individual awareness and label checking.

Eliminating trans fats is not only beneficial for public health but also has positive economic implications. A study by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) found that implementing a national ban on industrially produced trans fats in Barbados could have prevented significant future productivity losses, amounting to USD 546,246.13. By reducing the incidence of heart diseases and other non-communicable diseases, such policies can contribute positively to the economy.

The global effort to eliminate trans fats is led by the WHO and supported by various international organizations. The WHO’s REPLACE package provides detailed guidance for countries to eliminate iTFA, including six modules based on country experiences. This framework has been instrumental in helping 43 countries adopt best practice regulations, protecting an additional 3.2 billion people and preventing a significant portion of deaths caused by trans fats annually.

It is important to distinguish between natural and industrially produced trans fats. Natural trans fats are produced in small amounts in the guts of ruminant animals like cows, sheep, and goats, and they are not considered harmful in the same way as industrially produced trans fats. The focus of the elimination efforts is on industrially produced trans fats, which are extensively used in ultra-processed foods to enhance taste, texture, and shelf life.

The momentum to eliminate trans fats in the Caribbean is building, thanks to the collaboration among various stakeholders. The CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean Public Health Law Forum, the Law and Health Research Unit of the University of the West Indies, and several health foundations are all contributing to this effort. These partnerships are crucial for advocating for policy changes, conducting research, and providing technical assistance to governments and civil society organizations.

The Caribbean region’s goal to eliminate harmful trans fats by 2025 is ambitious but achievable. With strong commitments from policymakers, public awareness campaigns, and the support of international organizations, the region can join the growing list of countries that have successfully eliminated these harmful substances from their food supplies. The benefits of this initiative extend beyond public health to economic gains, making it a win-win for the people and the economies of the Caribbean. As the region moves closer to this deadline, continued advocacy, policy implementation, and public support will be essential in ensuring the success of this critical public health initiative.

More Food & Wine