TAWLA calls for measures on trans fatty acids

TANZANIA: TRANS Fatty Acids (TFA), commonly found in processed and fried foods, have long been associated with serious health effects, particularly cardiovascular diseases.

In Tanzania, the rising consumption of TFA is becoming a growing public health concern, especially among children. While TFA are often invisible in everyday foods like margarine, cookies, pastries, and fried snacks, its health impact is hidden.

The Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) is leading efforts to expose the hidden dangers of TFA through bold advocacy, public education, and policy campaigns. TAWLA is also working to create healthier food environments and protect the well-being of the nation’s children.

Trans Fatty Acids are unsaturated fats chemically altered through hydrogenation, a process that solidifies liquid oils and enhances both shelf life and flavour stability.

Scientific research has consistently shown that TFA increases levels of low-density lipoprotein, commonly known as bad cholesterol, while simultaneously decreasing highdensity lipoprotein, or good cholesterol.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 500,000 premature deaths occur annually due to coronary heart disease (CHD) caused by high TFA consumption.

The Executive Director of TAWLA, Ms Tike Mwambipile said that despite global progress in eliminating TFA from food products, many Tanzanians continue to be exposed to industrially produced food with a lot of TFA, putting their health at risk.

She said, “the absence of a comprehensive national standard in Tanzania to regulate and limit TFA content in food products exacerbates this issue, leading to preventable deaths and a strain on our healthcare system. Ms Mwambipile said they believe developing a legally binding national standard on TFA is crucial in protecting public health.

“Such a standard would limit the amount of TFA allowed in food products, with the ultimate goal of eliminating industrially produced TFA. Our collective effort is aimed at raising public awareness, building the capacity of stakeholders and advocating for policy and regulatory reforms that prioritise the health of our citizens,” said Ms Mwambipile.

Based on that WHO has set a target to eliminate industrially produced TFA from the global food supply by the year 2023.

Despite this target, Tanzania still has limited data on which to base the development of a goodpractice policy to regulate the amount of TFA in food products.

In Tanzania, the impact of Trans Fatty Acids is becoming increasingly evident among younger populations. Childhood hypertension, once considered a rare condition, is now an emerging concern.

A study conducted in Dar es Salaam revealed that the prevalence of hypertension among preschool children ranged from 1.9 per cent to as high as 19.9 per cent, depending on the measurement methods used.

What makes this trend particularly troubling is that hypertension in children often goes undiagnosed, silently setting the stage for more serious health complications later in life, such as heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.

When hypertension begins at a young age, it can result in cumulative damage over the years, greatly increasing the likelihood of severe illnesses in adulthood.

Recognising the threat posed by TFA, global organisations have taken action. In 2018, WHO launched the REPLACE initiative, a comprehensive plan aiming to eliminate industrially produced Trans Fatty Acids from the global food supply by 2023.

This initiative focuses on reviewing dietary sources of TFA, promoting the replacement of industrial TFA with healthier fats and oils, and establishing legislation to eliminate TFA from food products.

By 2024, fifty-three countries had implemented bestpractice policies aligned with the REPLACE strategy, covering approximately 3.7 billion people worldwide. Several nations have made remarkable progress.

Within Tanzania, TAWLA has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce TFA exposure by public awareness among key stakeholders to help provide precautions to the public and reduce the risks in the country.

One key area is legal advocacy, where the organisation lobbies policymakers and government bodies to enact and enforce regulations that limit the amount of TFA in food products.

Education efforts are vital because many Tanzanians remain unaware of the hidden dangers lurking in popular processed and fried foods. In addition, TAWLA collaborates with health organisations and research institutions to promote evidencebased policy development.

These partnerships strengthen the foundation for sustainable change by ensuring that food policies are informed by accurate, up-to-date scientific data.

Through their work, TAWLA aims to create healthier food environments for Tanzanians, including children who are now facing health problems due to the excessive use of processed food.

Despite these efforts, more needs to be done to effectively combat the TFA crisis and its impact on child health in Tanzania. There must be a strong commitment to policy implementation.

Regulations that limit the amount of TFA in foods must not only be enacted but also enforced through regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance. Public awareness campaigns must be intensified.

Reaching more communities, especially in rural and semiurban areas, is essential to ensure that all Tanzanians understand the health risks of Trans Fatty Acids and can make informed dietary choices.

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Promoting healthier alternatives to industrial TFA is crucial. Encouraging the use of natural oils like sunflower oil, avocado oil, and other unsaturated fats in both home cooking and commercial food production can greatly reduce Trans Fatty Acid intake.

Organisations like TAWLA are leading the charge, but sustained commitment from government, health professionals, communities and individuals is necessary to create lasting change.

Tanzania has an opportunity to protect its youngest generation from the dangers of TFA and ensure they grow up with healthier hearts and brighter futures.