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

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