About Trans Fatty Acid (TFA)
- Trans fat, or trans-fatty acids, are unsaturated fatty acids that come from either natural or industrial sources
- Naturally occurring trans-fat come from ruminants (cows and sheep).
- Industrially produced trans-fat are found in hardened vegetable fats such as margarine and are often present in snack foods, baked goods and fried foods.
- Industrially produced trans-fats are formed in a process that adds hydrogen to vegetable oil converting the liquid into a solid, resulting in “partially hydrogenated” oil (PHO).
- Manufacturers often use them as they have a longer shelf life and are cheaper than other fats.
Health Impacts:
- Intake of TFA is associated with increased risk of heart attacks and death from coronary heart disease.
- Approximately 540,000 deaths each year globally and 60,000 in India can be attributed to intake of industrially produced TFA.