Egypt Launches 'Trans Fat Free Egypt' Initiative to Strengthen Food Safety

In cooperation with the World Health Organization, Dr Tarek El-Houby, head of the National Food Safety Authority, opened the inaugural workshop of the "Towards a Trans Fat Free Egypt" project, with broad participation from health and regulatory bodies and the food industry.

Why the initiative matters

Dr Tarek El-Houby said eliminating trans fats is a fundamental step towards protecting public health and raising the competitiveness of Egyptian food products.

Dr Mohamed Hassany, Assistant Minister of Health and Population, pointed to the serious health effects of these fats, warning of their close association with rising rates of coronary heart disease and chronic non-communicable diseases. He said the issue is a top priority for easing the health and economic burden, stressing the importance of joint efforts between the ministry and the authority to guarantee safe food for all.

The national roadmap

The head of the National Food Safety Authority set out the strategy for verifying that products are free of trans fats, built on three main pillars:

• Developing legislation: Updating regulatory frameworks to ensure strict compliance with health standards.
• Tightening oversight: Strengthening the regulatory presence in markets to monitor products and track their compliance with specifications.
• Upgrading laboratories: Raising laboratory capacity to ensure accurate analysis and provide reliable scientific data.

Egyptian leadership and international recognition

Dr Naeema Al-Gasseer, the World Health Organization's representative in Egypt, stressed the need to apply global best practice and enact strict legislation to eliminate trans fats permanently. She praised the advanced steps Egypt is taking in this field, describing the country as a front-runner and a regional model to follow in applying health policy across the Arab world and the African continent.

Workshop agenda

Sessions covered wide-ranging discussions on several themes, notably:

• Assessing the health burden and risks arising from trans fat consumption in Egypt.
• Reviewing the global standards adopted by the World Health Organization and the best verification mechanisms.
• Examining the challenges and opportunities for applying national and international specifications.

Closing the workshop, the National Food Safety Authority renewed its commitment to continued cooperation with the public and private sectors and the scientific community, in order to advance the initiative's goals and raise food quality in the Egyptian market.

Source: Al Watan