Warning over false ‘trans-fats-free’ labels

By THE NATION

 

 

THE FOOD and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned food manufacturers against misleading consumers with “trans-fats-free” labels.
 

“Such a misleading label is an offence under the Food Act and punishable by a fine of up to a Bt30,000,” FDA Food Bureau chief Supattra Boonserm said yesterday. 

 

Trans fats caught the public’s attention after legislation was published in the Royal Gazette earlier this month that the production, import and sale of industrial trans fats, referring to partially hydrogenated oils, will be banned in Thailand beginning on January 9. 

 

Supattra said that, apart from industrial trans fats, there were also natural trans fats. 

 

“Products containing no industrial trans fats may have a high amount of saturated fat and that can be harmful to consumers’ health too. So product labels should not confuse or mislead consumers,” she said. “Trans-fats-free labels could make some consumers believe the products are healthy.” 

 

She said some brands had lately described their products as “trans-fats-free”. 

 

Supattra said the FDA also planned to conduct random checks after the ban took effect. 

 

“We will inspect manufacturing facilities and check products at distribution outlets too. Those who still use industrial trans fats will face both a jail term and a fine,” she said. 

 

The fine will range between Bt5,000 and Bt20,000. 

 

Assoc Prof Wantanee Kriengsinyos, who teaches at Mahidol University’s Institute of Nutrition, said saturated fat posed a bigger risk to Thais because a survey showed just 13 per cent of products contained excess trans fats, but 53 per cent of products had excess saturated fat. 

 

Dr Khanat Kruthakul, a cardiologist and nutritionist, said Thais’ love of deep-fried food had created high consumption of saturated fat. He recommended that people opt for steamed and boiled foods instead. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30350732

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-25

how about a 200,000 baht fine for this offence

4 hours ago, Lingba said:

how about a 200,000 baht fine for this offence

Make it 2 billion, but it wont matter as there is no enforcement anyways. Unless you step on the toes of someone important of course...

That is where the real fines should be in billions not few thousands as well as closure of 6 months for first offence if repeated cancel licence and total closure with imprisonment as they are playing with the health of people if not the entire population ?

43 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

but it wont matter as there is no enforcement anyways.

...and if caught red handed, they will find a Chinese importer to blame.

. . . saturated fat posed a bigger risk to Thais 

 

Debatable, in view of  the latest scientific evidence which has caused a massive rethink.

 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/saturated-fat-good-or-bad#section4

Some countries allow rounding down for trans fat.

So 0.48% can be labelled as 0% trans fat.

I don't know about Thailand.

 

 

"The fine will range between Bt5,000 and Bt20,000. (...)"

 

Isn't that the fine for spitting in the street?

Smart farang know that with Thais you cannot really trust anything at all. It's all a gamble. They are especially untrustworthy where precision would be involved. We all take our chances. 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

Warning over false ‘trans-fats-free’ labels

So the labels aren't free - you'll still be charged for them?

 

I looked at the labels of 3 products that contain fat. Not one of them mentions trans-fat....... How about getting it ON the labels as a starter.