Trans Fatty Acid Regulations: Past, Present & Future

摘要

TRANS FATTY ACIDS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MAJOR TOPICS of debate in nutrition circles during the past few years. Trans fats are a class of conjugated fatty acids that occur naturally in small amounts in meat and dairy products; however, the majority of dietary trans fat comes from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and products containing them. Trans fats are now believed to be similar to saturated fats in their impact on health and on coronary disease. When the 1993 Nutrition Labeling and EducationAct (NLEA) became law, listing trans fatty acids separately on the label was not required. Trans fatty acids received much attention in 1994 when the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) petitioned FDA to require trans fat to be declared on the Nutrition Facts Panel. This petition was amended in 1998, and in November of r999, the agency issued a proposed rule to include trans fat on the panel. Several comment periods addressed the regulation in general, "reduced claims", and the use of a footnote.