Survey of trans fatty acid content of Australian and New Zealand foods

(January 2015)

 

FSANZ completed a survey of trans fatty acids (TFAs) in 2013 which shows TFA levels in food remain low. 

 

The survey, along with other work, was undertaken to inform FSANZ's advice to ministers responsible for food regulation on a labelling review recommendation on trans fatty acids.

 

 

The survey was conducted through the Implementation Subcommittee for Food Regulation, made up of representatives from food regulation authorities across Australia and New Zealand.  

 

The results are consistent with previous TFA survey results. Dietary modelling on previous surveys found that Australians obtain on average 0.5 per cent of their daily energy intake from TFAs and New Zealanders on average 0.6 per cent. This is well below the World Health Organization recommendation of no more than 1 per cent. 

 

Because the survey results did not show an increase in TFA concentrations in Australian and New Zealand foods, it is anticipated that the dietary intake of TFAs remains low. 

 

Dietary exposure modelling has also shown that about half of our intake of TFAs comes from dairy and meat products.