The elimination of trans fats from spreads: how science helped to turn an industry around.
Mensink and Katan showed in 1990 that trans fats reduce high- and increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Unilever aided this study because the company considered knowledge on trans fats incomplete in spite of their long history of safe use. The decision in 1994 to remove trans fats from Unilever's retail spreads was triggered by media events, but it was built on a solid understanding of the nutritional and technological aspects of trans fats. Over the next 14 years, manufacturers worldwide followed suit. This experience illustrates that food companies need to know about the health effects of their products and how to apply that knowledge.
Korver
Onno
O
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Katan
Martijn B
MB
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005524:Food Technology; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008383:Margarine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D008383:Margarine