The Heart and Stroke Foundation wants the federal government to finally take action on trans fats, the dangerous fats that raise blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
The Foundation is asking the federal government to implement its recommendations contained in its Trans Fat Task Force report entitled, "TRANSforming the Food Supply."
Those recommendations included limiting the total trans fat in all foods purchased in restaurants or grocery stores to five per cent of the total fat content.
The report was sent to the government last June. Health Minister Tony Clement was expected to respond back in the fall by announcing new regulations, but he has still not done formally responded.
"We urge the government not to be silent on this issue any longer," Sally Brown, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, said Thursday.
"We want this toxin -- which is what it is -- removed from our food supply."
So far, the government's only response was back in 1995, when it urged Canadians to read nutrition labels and choose products low in trans and saturated fats. As well, they called on restaurants and the food service industry to eliminate partially hydrogenated vegetable oils from their operations.
David McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health, joined Brown to insist that regulations, not voluntary measures from the food industry, are the best way to rid Canada's food products of trans fats.
"The regulatory approach would protect all Canadians equally, including people who do not read food labels: people who don't speak French of English, people with low literacy levels, and will protect them regardless of where they purchase their food," McKeown explained.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation says the issue is urgent because Canadians have one of the highest trans fat intakes worldwide, consuming 4.9 grams of trans fats a day.
Studies show that consuming just five grams of trans fats a day over many years boosts the risk of heart disease by 25 per cent.
The task force's June report concluded that creating regulations to reduce heart-clogging processed trans fats would be practical and feasible. They found they had the support of a cross-section of sectors, including the food industry, consumer associations and health groups.
Trans fats are used in foods made with shortening or partially hydrogenated oil, such as crackers and cookies. It's also found in deep-fried foods such as donuts and french fries.
Trans fat is considered even worse than saturated fat because it not only raises your "bad" LDL cholesterol levels, but it also lowers your "good" HDL cholesterol levels.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation warns that processed trans fats could be at least partly responsible for as many as 50,000 heart attack deaths every decade in Canada.
Toronto agencies asked to help
Toronto Public Health introduced its own recommendations on Thursday, and asked city-run agencies to voluntarily reduce the amount of trans fats in its foods.
"Starting at the local level shows that we think this is an important issue," McKeown told Â鶹´«Ã½.
"There's a limit to what we can do at the local level without federal regulation, which is why we're pushing the federal government to act on the task force."
The agencies that have been asked to reduce trans fats include:
- Daycares;
- Homes for the aged;
- Homeless shelters; and
- Community and recreation centres.
McKeown is optimistic the organizations will make the important changes.
"The initial response we've had from city agencies has been quite positive," he said.
McKeown will also that ask the Toronto public and Catholic school boards reduce trans fats in the foods served in cafeterias and vending machines.
With a report from CTV's Desmond Brown
