Recent Trend in Trans Fatty Acids Field

Abstract

In Japan, in recent years trans fatty acids (TFA) in food have received considerable attention among the food manufactures, retailers and consumers. In June 2007, Japan Food Safety Commission reported that the mean intake of TFA by the Japanese population was 0.7g/ person/ day (0.35 % of energy) based on household food consumption surveys or 1.3g/ person/ day (0.6% of energy) based on food production amounts. The latter estimate decreased from 1.56g (0.7% of total energy) in 1998 and was considerably lower than in western countries and recommendations by WHO & FDA (<1% energy). It is noteworthy that Japanese traditional diets has relative low amount of fats. Although the low TFA intake in Japan is not thought to be an important problem at present, we should pay attention to an excessive consumption of TFA by the young population as they prefer western foods.