UN trans-fat ban risks nutritional setback, experts warn

NAIROBI, KENYA: More than 115 agrifood experts, government advisors, and business leaders from Africa, Europe, and the Americas have signed a letter opposing a newly published United Nations (UN) declaration to eliminate trans-fatty acids from global diets.

They warn that the move could inadvertently deny developing countries, including Tanzania, the nutritional benefits of milk and meat.

The draft resolution is currently under review by UN member states, with a final version expected to be presented for endorsement at the UN General Assembly in September.

According to details made available to the Daily News, the letter has been endorsed by representatives from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), and the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND).

Signatories also include experts from East African nations Kenya and Tanzania, and Nigeria in West Africa.

According to a UN dossier, the declaration aims to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease and diabetes by proposing the elimination of all trans-fatty acids from global diets.

However, ILRI has argued that while industrially produced trans-fatty acids do contribute to NCDs, naturally occurring ones in animal-source foods, when consumed in low amounts, are not harmful and may even offer protective health benefits, including reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

In an open letter to UN negotiators, the signatories wrote: “The risk of a blanket commitment to eliminate all trans-fatty acids is that it unnecessarily discourages the consumption of highly nutritious dairy, meat, and other animal-source foods. Once again, the burden will fall heaviest on low- and middle-income countries, where nutrient-rich meat, milk, and dairy are already under-consumed.”

The letter, coordinated by ILRI’s Nairobi office, was endorsed by AU-IBAR and also signed by experts affiliated with the UN Committee on World Food Security, GAIN, and the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP).

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NCDs disproportionately affect developing countries, where obesity and adult-onset diet-related diseases are closely linked to undernutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. In 2023, one in five Africans faced hunger, and nearly a third of children under five suffered from stunting.

Animal-source foods such as milk and meat are rich in energy, high-quality protein, and micronutrients like vitamins A and B12, riboflavin, calcium, zinc, and iodine. Studies show that children who consume milk daily can grow up to three percent more in a month than those who do not — yet in some developing countries, average annual milk consumption is as low as 1kg per person.

“A single glass of milk is among the most affordable, nutrient-rich foods available. Milk has been shown to reduce stunting in children and ease hunger,” said Namukolo Covic, ILRI’s Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia.

She added: “Industrially produced trans-fatty acids come from food processing — a sector still in its infancy in many African countries. These countries have the opportunity to shape a healthier food future as their systems evolve and must focus on eliminating industrial trans-fats.”

From July 14 to 23, countries will gather in New York for the UN’s High-Level Political Forum, which will assess progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Commenting on the issue, Prof Ruth Oniang’o, Editor-in-Chief of AJFAND, said: “The contribution of animal-source foods to trans-fatty acids is minimal compared to industrially derived trans-fats and must be weighed against their high nutrient density. Even in small amounts, their nutritional benefits are significant.”

According to Prof Oniang’o, for low-income populations, animal-source foods are often the only reliable source of essential nutrients.

She called on the UN negotiators recognize the difference between high levels of industrial trans-fats and the naturally occurring, low levels in animal-source foods.