The Department of Health ruled that as from the 17th August 2011, the sale, manufacture or importing of foodstuffs containing partially hydrogenated fats and oils will be prohibited. According to the Department, all food products can only contain less than two grams non-ruminant trans-fats (or industrially manufactured trans-fats) per 100 grams of fat.
In a bid to diminish the risk associated with coronary heart disease and obesity in South Africa, Pick n Pay announced that it had ensured its food products will comply with the Department’s regulations as from August.
‘Millions of people are at risk of developing coronary heart disease in South Africa,’ said Teresa Harris, Pick n Pay dietician. ‘It is the most common form of heart disease, characterised by the hardening of arteries due to a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels.’
Peter Arnold, Pick n Pay’s merchandise director confirmed that Pick n Pay’s technical team is currently reviewing the Pick n Pay product range to ensure the levels of trans-fatty acids will comply with legislation. ‘We have requested analysis certificates from suppliers of vegetable fats and oils used in our products to make sure the final non-ruminant trans-fatty acid value will not be more than two per cent of total fats,’ he said.
Trans-fatty acids occurring naturally in animal fats may have health benefits and are therefore excluded from the proposed new legislation. Non-ruminant trans-fats are man-made trans-fats, also referred to as Industrially Processed-Trans Fatty Acids (IP-TFAs) identified by scientists, worldwide, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), to be one of the major factors contributing to the global pandemic of chronic diseases of lifestyle such as coronary heart disease and obesity.
Furthermore, the Department of Health plans to introduce legislation to lower the salt content of food. According to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the South African diet has been shown to be very high in salt.
‘We offer a variety of food products, but we have always considered the guarantee of safe food of good quality paramount to our business. To this end, we are ensuring that all Pick n Pay food products are in line with the Department of Health’s regulations,’ empahisised Harris.
Harris concluded, ‘Pick n Pay would like to urge its customers to make healthy food choices and to follow a healthy lifestyle.’
