Health authorities moved Thursday to try to allay concerns among consumers after the Public Health Ministry announced a ban on the production, import and sale of artificial trans fats, saying vegetable oils remain safe for consumption.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said the public should not be "over-concerned" about the announcement because it does not affect vegetable cooking oils which are safe for use.
He said the ministry's ban covers artificial trans fats, the byproduct of a process called hydrogenation in which hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to alter its state.
Artificial trans fats have been implicated in serious health problems such as heart disease, and they are found mainly in baked products.
Dr Piyasakol said the ban is aimed at controlling the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in the food industry and has little affect on the daily life of the general public.
He also said some food producers are aware of the health risks posed by PHOs and they are developing new recipes and turning away from artificial trans fats before they are banned.
He suggested consumers check food labels for the ingredients if they are concerned the products might contain artificial trans fats. "When we cook at home, we don't use the artificial trans fats. The oil used to fry kluay khaek (fried banana with batter) isn't PHOs," he said.
Assoc Prof Wantanee Kriangsinyot, of Mahidol University's Institute of Nutrition, said bottled cooking oil undergoes a different process and is safe for consumption.
She said there is no need to be over-concerned about artificial trans fats and noted the food industry has been aware of plans to remove trans fats and is revising their recipes.
Prof Visith Chavasit, of Mahidol University's Institute of Nutrition and head of a research project on artificial trans fats, has welcomed the ban, saying it will keep the consumers from bad oils. However, he said the public should still eat sensibly and exercise regularly because certain foods, even without artificial trans fats, are high in sugar and carbohydrate.
The Public Health Ministry published an announcement in the Royal Gazette last Friday banning the production, import and sale of partially hydrogenated oils, as well as any food that contains them, effective 180 days from the publication date.
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