VietNamNet Bridge – Nutritionists have called on the Government to issue regulations and apply stricter management measures concerning the use of unsaturated fats in the food industry in Viet Nam.


HTML clipboard A street food stall on Ha Noi's Nha Tho Street. Nutritionists are calling for regulations and stricter management of unsaturated fats. (Photo: VNS)
"There is an urgent need," said vice chairman of the Viet Nam Standard and Consumer Protection Association Do Gia Phan.

Trans fats (industrially-produced trans-fatty acids), are found in popular junk food and industrially produced foods such as donuts, fried sausage, snacks and instant noodles.


They were produced when hydrogenated oils were cooked, said deputy director of the Viet Nam Cardiovascular Institute Nguyen Bach Yen.

According to the World Health Organisation, the consumption of trans fats increases the risk of coronary heart diseases and diabetes.


Phan said there was no regulations in Viet Nam requiring producers to publish the amount of trans fats present in their products.


Some food products are labeled as "trans fats – free" at super markets, but there are no mandatory standards that regulate trans fat content.


Phan said other countries in the world had taken steps toward eliminating trans fats.


The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that Mc Donald's has eliminated trans fat in their products in Denmark, France, Russia and Argentina.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News