Philippines to Ban Trans Fats in Imported Foods

The Philippines recently announced plans to ban most trans fatty-acids by 2023, including TFAs in imported food products, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 9 report. The order, which took effect July 6, provides a policy framework to eliminate “industrially-produced” TFAs in the country’s food supply within the next two years and reduce TFA intake “to less than 1% of the recommended total energy intake.” Under the order, the Philippines will ban the production, import and commercial distribution of industrially produced TFAs and processed food products containing TFAs, USDA said.