In this episode of the food programme, Sheila Dillon exposes the truth about trans fats, and the huge costs of these toxic fats to public health.
Dangerously high levels of trans fats are still found in many fast foods, commerically baked goods, takeaways and restaurant meals -but without regulation, the consumer has absolutely no way of knowing whether or not they are consuming these toxic substances - and most people have still never even heard of them.
See Stender et al 2006 for the variation in trans fats found in exactly the same meals bought at different outlets. This and other evidence persuaded New York to ban trans fats some years ago (Okie et al 2007) and since then, other countries have been following the lead first set by Denmark.
Why won't the UK government follow suit? Instead they have continued to ignore calls from medical and public health experts, including their own independent advisors, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Further Information
10 July 2011 - BBC Radio 4 - The Food Programme: Trans Fats
Sheila Dillon investigates the issue of trans-fats in our food, and asks whether a voluntary agreement by the food industry to eliminate them by the end of the year is enough to prevent the kind of health problems associated with a diet heavy in industrial cooking fats.
Among the contributors to the programme was Dr Alex Richardson of FAB Research.