CEFROHT pushes Uganda to act on industrially-produced trans fatty acids (ITFAs).

Industrially-produced Trans Fatty Acids (iTFAs) are the main cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other health-related challenges in Uganda^. ITFAs are factory-made bad fats, have no nutritional value, increase harmful cholesterol, clog arteries, and drive up the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Heart diseases are a great public health issue; they reduce productive work hours, are very costly to treat hence affecting Human Capital Development.

The increasing availability and high consumption of iTFAs is a major risk factor, which increases the risk of death from any cause by 34%, coronary heart disease deaths by 28%, and coronary heart disease by 21%^[1]. In Uganda, 33% of total deaths are due to NCDs, and for every Ugandan citizen, the probability of dying prematurely from one of the four main NCDs is 22%^[2], with CVDs accounting for 9% of these deaths. In 2019 alone, Uganda recorded 28,149 CVD-related deaths, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 246 per 100,000 people.

CEFROHT, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is working on a hybrid regulation to regulate industrially produced trans fatty acids and ban Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) from Uganda’s food supply as a way to prevent cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease, among others.

The World Health Organization, through the Thirteenth General Programme Of Work 2019–2023, called for the global elimination of industrially-produced trans fats by 2023 for all member states, including Uganda. The lack of such a regulation in Uganda continues to uncontrollably predispose Ugandans to bad fats, increase their risk of disease and mortality.

[1] https://assets.advocacyincubator.org/uploads/TFA-Cheat-Sheet-FINAL.pdf

[2] https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/un-supporting-uganda-to-halt-the-rise-of-non-communicable-diseases