Experts sound alarm over industrial trans fatty acids

KAMPALA – As Uganda grapples with a surging crisis of non-communicable diseases, health experts and civil society organizations are intensifying the push for strict regulations on industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs). Often hidden in cheap cooking oils, margarines, street foods, confectioneries and other packaged snacks, these invisible killers are now being linked to a alarming rise in heart disease and hypertension across the country.

The “Twofold blow” on Heart Health

While most people know that fat can be unhealthy, senior nutritionist Benard Bwambale warns that industrial trans fatty acids are in a category of their own. According to Bwambale, these fats deliver a “twofold blow” to the human cardiovascular system.

“They are the only fats that simultaneously raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good cholesterol,” Bwambale explained. This unique chemical behavior leads to a rapid buildup of plaque, a sticky deposit of fat and calcium inside the arteries.

As these plaques grow, they narrow the arteries, a process known as atherosclerosis, which significantly increases the risk of sudden heart attacks and strokes.

Global data from the World Health Organization shows that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality in the world. Major risk factors are unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use. Among other dietary factors, high intake of trans fat increases the risk of death from any cause by 34%, coronary heart disease deaths by 28%, and coronary heart disease by 21%. Industrially produced Trans fatty acids have no known health benefits.

A Growing Crisis: 1 in 4 Ugandans Hypertensive

The scale of this threat in the local context was laid bare by Dr. Charles Oyoo, the Commissioner of Health Services-Non-Communicable Diseases Department at the Ministry of Health. Speaking on the current state of public health, Dr. Oyoo revealed that cardiovascular diseases have become the leading killer among NCDs in Uganda.

“According to our 2023 report, cardiovascular diseases alone account for 12% of NCD-related deaths,” Dr. Oyoo stated. He further highlighted a worrying trend in blood pressure: “Out of every four people in Uganda today, one is hypertensive.”

Dr. Oyoo assured the media that the Ministry of Health is restless about the situation and is moving towards having the Nutrient Profile Model signed to curb the consumption of harmful nutrients like high sugar, salt and fats.

Legislation: Public Health Act 2023

The push for a healthier food supply is now grounded in law. Under the Public Health (Amendment) Act 2023, Section 49, mandates the Minister to adopt a preventive approach to disease control.

Dr. David Kabanda (Ph.D.), Executive Director of the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) in Gayaza-Wakiso District, emphasized that Civil Society Organizations are working hand-in-hand with the government to ensure this mandate is fulfilled.

“As CSOs, we are working together with the government to create awareness and help the Ministry of Health come up with regulations,” Dr. Kabanda explained. These regulations are vital for the Ministry to fulfill its legal obligations, ensuring that Ugandans are protected from industrially produced toxins like trans fatty acids.

As Uganda missed the 2023 global deadline set by the WHO to eliminate industrial trans fats, the combined effort of the Ministry of Health, nutritionists like Bwambale, and legal advocates like Dr. Kabanda marks a critical turning point.