The Nigerian Federal Government on Monday stated an increase in consumption of fatty foods at the official conferment of the Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) Policy Champion Award in Abuja.
The Punch Newspaper reports that the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mahmuda Mamman, and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunmimbe Mamora were present at the event amongst other key stakeholders who spoke on the regulation of Trans Fatty Acids.
The permanent secretary Mamman in a statement said, “Nigerians love fatty foods. TFAs through research are known globally as toxic chemicals associated with human risk gotten when food is consumed in the presence of industrially produced trans fat most commonly found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils which may be found in baked, fried and packaged foods.
“The toxic chemicals in TFAs are transmitted to related organs like heart and major organs to cause cardiovascular disease and other complications.
“Currently, NAFDAC under our watch is reviewing fats and oils regulation to capture the two per cent maximum limit set up by World Health Organization and the ministry is giving all necessary support and will make sure that the regulations on fats and oils are gazetted on time.”
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunmimbe Mamora, also added that TFAs have been linked to an increase in the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and death. According to him, “Trans fat has been linked to an increase in the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancers and death. According to the new estimates by the World Health Organization, over 250,000 people died yearly resulting from complications associated with the consumption of foods high in trans fats. This has led to the call for the global elimination of industrially-produced trans-fat by 2023,” he said.
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