High content of trans fats in snacks, from Roti Maryam to Martabak

People need to limit foods containing high levels of trans fatty acids. Trans fats can trigger heart disease.

FOTO-FOTO: KOMPAS/SIWI YUNITA CAHYANINGRUM

Food hunters enjoyed a meal together at the World Street Food Congress 2017 in Manila, Philippines, from Wednesday (31/5/2017) to Sunday (4/6/2017). Indonesian martabak became the darling of the world snack jamboree.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Residents are advised to be more careful in choosing the food they want to consume. The latest study shows that as many as 8.5 percent of the 130 products studied contained levels of trans fatty acids that exceeded the threshold of 2 percent.

These are the results of a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) together with a research team at the South-East Asia Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (Seafast) Center IPB.

High levels of trans fats are found in snacks that are often consumed by the public. In types of packaged food products, high trans fat content is found, among others, in original pie biscuits, chocolate coated wafers filled with chocolate cream, and red velvet flavored cakes.

High trans fat content is also found in ready-to-eat foods, both in street food such as chocolate maryam bread and chocolate martabak or in factory-made ready-to-eat foods such as chocolate-filled croissants.

It was also found that trans fat content that exceeded the threshold was found in ingredients commonly used for bakery products, namely baking fats and shortening.

High trans fat content is also found in ready-to-eat foods, both in street food such as chocolate maryam bread and chocolate martabak or in factory-made ready-to-eat foods such as chocolate-filled croissants.

Researcher from Seafast Center IPB and also Professor in the field of Food Science and Technology at IPB University, Didah Nur Faridah, expressed this during the Launching of the Trans Fat Source Study on Food, on Monday (6/5/2024).

According to Didah, high levels of trans fatty acids can have negative impacts on health. Industrial trans fatty acids or ALTi can trigger an increase in levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and decrease levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Eid is a tough ordeal for people who diet for health reasons or to maintain their body shape.

"The increasing consumption of trans unsaturated fatty acids raises the ratio of LDL and HDL cholesterol. The LDL level becomes higher. However, as we know, an increase in LDL cholesterol can trigger the occurrence of coronary heart disease," he explained.

High trans fat intake can also trigger an increase in triacylglycerol (TAG) levels. In a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2011, trans fatty acids can trigger insulin resistance and diabetes. Other health impacts include the risk of coronary heart disease and cancer.

Also read: Trans Fat Threats

According to the International Dairy Federation, trans fatty acids are divided into two types, namely industrial trans fatty acids that are produced industrially (i-TFA) and trans fatty acids that are produced by ruminants (r-TFA).

The higher consumption of trans unsaturated fatty acids increases the ratio of LDL and HDL cholesterol.

Industrial trans fatty acids have a very high level of trans fatty acids, reaching up to 60 percent. As for ruminant-produced trans fatty acids, it is around 6 percent.

Industrial trans fatty acids are the result of partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil (PHO). This hydrogenation process turns liquid oil into a semi-solid or solid fat.

From an industrial perspective, trans fat is very attractive because it is more durable, improves the oxidative stability of oil, increases the melting point of oil, and can enhance the taste of processed foods.

WHO INDONESIA

Total Trans Fat Content in Food Products

However, after various researches showed the adverse effects of trans fats on health, 53 countries have finally reduced or banned the use of trans fats, such as Denmark, England, Switzerland, and Canada.

This also prompted WHO to issue a trans fat elimination guide called Replace in 2018.

Regulations

The Team Leader of Non-communicable Diseases and Healthier Population at WHO Indonesia, Lubna Bhatti, stated that high trans fat intake causes half a million global deaths every year.

High intake of trans fatty acids is closely related to an increased risk of heart attack and death from coronary heart disease.

Also read: Erase Industrial Trans Fats by 2023

The commitment to eliminate trans fat is deemed important for the Indonesian government to undertake. Heart disease is a non-communicable disease that ranks number one in terms of mortality and morbidity in Indonesia.

Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) recorded an increasing trend in heart disease, namely 0.5 percent in 2013 to 1.5 percent in 2018.

"Evidence shows that the most effective way to eliminate trans fat is through regulations. Without strong policies and regulations, products containing high levels of trans fat are at risk of entering Indonesia, thus increasingly endangering the health and national development," said Lubna.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Visitors are preparing to savor the large egg pempek or submarine sandwiches on Depaten Lama Street, 27 Ilir Village, Ilir Barat II District, Palembang, South Sumatra, on Tuesday (12/12/2023).

Regarding regulations to eliminate trans fat, the WHO recommends limiting trans fat levels to a maximum of 2% of the total fat content in all foods or equivalent to 2 grams per 100 grams of total fat.

Another way is to prohibit the production, import, sale and use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) in all foods.

Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, explained that regulations for limiting trans fat will be discussed. Restrictions or prohibitions will be easier to impose on products produced by the industrial sector.

Also read: Plant-based Foods Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

"The difficult part is in the informal sector, such as fried food vendors and martabak sellers, which are difficult to regulate. However, we will strive to raise awareness among the community," he said.

"In addition to implementing regulations and enforcement regarding trans fat in Indonesia, we are also educating the public to consume healthier fats," said Dante.