The Denmark's Experience In Handling The Trans Fat Issue!

The Danish Nutrition Council recognized the harms of Trans Fat: increase the bad cholesterol level (LDL) and decrease the good cholesterol level (HDL) which may increase the risk of getting heart disease.

Hence in 1990s, Denmark made margarine makers to reduce Trans Fat levels. As a result, the national average consumption of Trans Fat fell from about 2.5 g per day to between 1 g and 2 g per day.

However, Denmark aims for a healthy level of Trans Fat consumption, which is zero, instead of a compromise level of about 2 g. Realizing its citizens were still consuming a lot of Trans Fat from imported food, Denmark finally announced a ban on Trans Fat in 2003.

Significant response was reflected among the food industries. The manufacturers had no choice but had to reformulate its products to reduce Trans Fat for all of Europe.

Meanwhile, Danes are not complaining that they have fewer choices in food. For example, they are still enjoying French fries and chicken nuggets from McDonald’s. The only difference is theirs contain a mere 0.33 g of Trans Fat.