Director General of the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), IsmatGulKhattak has reiterated the commitment to formulate 2% mandatory limit of iTFA across all foods to combat non-communicable diseases effectively.
He was addressing a roundtable discussion organized by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) with the support of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) with an aim at tackling the health risks linked to the consumption of industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs) in Pakistan, where.
The gathering addressed the urgent need for evidence-based mandatory policies to safeguard public health and mitigate the detrimental effects of excessive iTFAs consumption, a news release said.
During the roundtable, it was also discussed the imperative for Pakistan to adopt stringent mandatory limits of iTFAs in all food supplies to no more than 2% of total fats as recommended by WHO. Such a policy, if effectively implemented, holds the potential to save numerous lives and alleviate the strain on healthcare infrastructure.
National Coordinator, Nutrition and NFA, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Dr. KhawajaMasuood Ahmed emphasized the urgency of action. Key measures proposed included formulating a 2% iTFA limit in all foods and then banning partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) to adopt the hybrid approach which best fit to Pakistan scenario. He also emphasized on fostering collaboration with the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
Country Coordinator of GHAI, MunawarHussain highlighted the necessity of adopting global best practices in iTFA regulation. Despite substantial progress globally, Pakistan remains in the less restrictive category in the WHO scorecard. Sixty-one countries have adopted the best practice policies, either to limit iTFA consumption or banned PHOs to save lives, or adopted hybrid approach where both policies were passed he further added. He shared the case studies from regional and other countries who adopted best practice policies and emphasized on urgent steps to prioritize public health and bridge this gap.
