Trans fatty acids in Europe: where do we stand?

Trans fatty acids (TFA) are a particular type of unsaturated fatty acid. They are naturally present in food products made from ruminant animals such as dairy and meat from cattle, sheep or goat (naturally occurring ruminant TFA or rTFA) but can also be produced industrially (TFA of industrial origin or iTFA). Consumption of TFA is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) states that ‘TFA intakes should be as low as is possible within the context of a nutritionally adequate diet'. Denmark was the first country to adopt legislation limiting the content of TFA in foods in 2003. Since 2003, Switzerland (2008), Austria (2009), Iceland (2011), Hungary (2013) and Norway (2014) have legislation in place and now also limit the content of TFA in foodstuffs. EU legislation does not regulate the content of TFA in foodstuffs nor does it require its labelling.The European Parliament and the Council have however requested as part of the recent Regulation (EC) No1169/11 on the provision of food information to consumers that the European Commission (EC) reports on ‘the presence of trans fats in foods and in the overall diet of the Union population’. It is expected that the results can inform further decisions on introducing, at European level, ‘appropriate means that could enable consumers to make healthier food and overall dietary choices or that could promote the provision of healthier food options to consumers, including, among others, the provision of information on trans fats to consumers or restrictions on their use’. This report is a first step in addressing this request. The analysis of the most recent publicly available data confirms reported reduction of TFA in foods but also shows that there are still a number of foods with high levels of TFA (above 2g TFA per 100g of fat) in some European food markets. Results from dietary surveys also indicate that although the overall population TFA intake is below the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended maximum of 1 E% there are subpopulations exceeding the recommended threshold. As long as products with high TFA content remain in the food market, it is possible that individuals may consume more than the recommended maximum. As it stands, there appears to be room for improvement of the European situation as regards the presence of iTFA in foodstuffs.JRC.I.2-Public Health Policy Suppor

Public health economic evaluation of different European Union–level policy options aimed at reducing population dietary trans fat intake.

Background: The adverse relation between dietary trans fatty acid (TFA) intake and coronary artery disease risk is well established. Many countries in the European Union (EU) and worldwide have implemented different policies to reduce the TFA intake of their populations. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the added value of EU-level action by estimating the cost-effectiveness of 3 possible EU-level policy measures to reduce population dietary TFA intake. This was calculated against a reference situation of not implementing any EU-level policy (i.e., by assuming only national or selfregulatory measures).post-print582 K

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling schemes: a comprehensive review

This JRC Science for Policy report was produced in support of a Commission report on front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling. It provides a review of the scientific literature concerning FOP nutrition labelling and its effects on consumers, food business operators, and the single market. A major emphasis is placed on consumer attention, preferences, and understanding of different FOP schemes, as well as effects on food purchasing and implications for diet and health. The report also considers in how far producer efforts on food reformulation and innovation may be affected by the introduction of FOP nutrition labelling schemes, describes potential unintended consequences of introducing FOP nutrition labelling, and highlights knowledge gaps and directions for future research. An extensive, yet non-exhaustive overview of FOP schemes around the globe complements the literature review.JRC.F.1-Health in Societ

Mapping and zooming in on childhood obesity

Overweight and obesity are a challenge for children and adolescents worldwide and in the EU. This report shows the dimension of the challenge at the EU level and tells a series of stories, illustrated through maps, that highlight and make the case for the importance of showing data disaggregated at various levels (by socio-economic status or by region – NUTS2, and even NUTS3). The data and maps presented show that education level for example, is an important determinant of obesity. Data collected at local level are a powerful source of knowledge that can and should be used for evidence-informed and truly tailor-made targeted actions and policies. This is illustrated by the comprehensive yearly evaluation of children's health that the Portuguese city of Gaia organises and the actions that stem from it. Interventions at local level based on local data have immediacy and deliver a sense of action and empowerment that is hardly achievable at national level. The stories selected here are mere examples; other stories, using other disaggregated data sets, could have been told. There is room and need for deepening data collection relevant to children's health and childhood obesity and to make it more accessible and comparable. This will benefit decision-makers at every level, public health practitioners and researchers. And most importantly, it will benefit the health of children and adolescents in our continent.JRC.F.1-Health in Societ

Mapping of National School Food Policies across the EU28 plus Norway and Switzerland

Background: With childhood obesity prevalence on the rise in many European countries, schools may serve as a protected environment for children to learn healthy diet and lifestyle habits. Policy makers, educators and researchers would benefit from a comprehensive overview of European school food policies. Methods: We screened public databases, EU level reports, national ministerial websites and the scientific literature to collate official school food policies across Europe. Member States representatives checked that all appropriate documents (total of 34 policies) had been identified and referenced, and they reviewed and confirmed the extracted data. Results: Mandatory standards are defined in 18 of the policies (53%), the remainder offering voluntary guidelines. Top 3 policy aims are to improve child nutrition (97%), teach healthy dietary/lifestyle habits (94%) and reduce/prevent obesity (88%). Variations mainly relate to the types of meals targeted (e.g. lunch, breakfast, snack, dinner); whether standards/recommendations are nutrient- and/or food-based; and if vending machines and the wider food environment (kiosks near schools, packed lunches from home, etc.) are considered. Conclusion: We provide an up-to-date overview of European school food policies. The next step will be to assess the need and feasibility for developing best practice guidelines for school food policies in Europe, bearing in mind cultural and structural differences between countries.JRC.I.2-Public Health Policy Suppor

Sugars content in selected foods in the EU: a 2015 baseline to monitor sugars reduction progress

In 2015, as part of the EU Framework for National Initiatives on Selected Nutrients, the EU High Level Group on Nutrition and Physical Activity (HLG) set as a target the reduction of added sugars in food products by a minimum of 10% by 2020 against a 2015 baseline. A suitable monitoring framework is necessary to describe the baseline situation and to evaluate the progress of food reformulation; its development is under way in some EU Member States, as well as part of the Joint Action on Nutrition and Physical Activity (JANPA). This report complements these activities by filling data gaps where needed and by providing a broad geographical coverage based on commercially available data collected in a harmonised way for branded products across Europe. It estimates sugars content from 2015 data for the three product categories identified by the HLG for immediate action: sugars sweetened beverages, breakfast cereals and dairy products. Based on market volume information, this report estimates the amount of total sugars sold to European consumers by these three product categories. By providing the mean sugars content, weighted by market share, for product (sub-) groups, it also highlights the existence of product groups whose reformulation is critical to achieving the 2020 target. The results highlight the need to adopt a multifaceted approach that targets not only individual high-sugars products, but also the products with high market shares that are contributing the highest overall volumes of sugars to consumers, independent of actual total sugars content. These results are calculated using 2015 data from a commercial market research company, Euromonitor International . The analysis is performed for 22 European countries; however, a comparison between countries is not provided due to differing market coverage.JRC.F.1-Health in Societ

Tomorrow's healthy society - Research priorities for foods and diets

Health promotion and disease prevention through provision and consumption of healthy diets are increasingly recognised as crucial, both socially and economically, in the face of strained healthcare systems, an ageing population, and the high individual and economic costs of diseases.The Foresight study ‘Tomorrow's healthy society – research priorities for foods and diets’ was initiated to inform the selection of research challenges to receive funding under the Horizon 2020 programme. The exploratory scenario-building approach focused on the European consumer with the year 2050 as a long-term time horizon. Four different future scenarios were developed using the extremes of two main drivers – agricultural commodity prices (low or high) and societal values (community spirit or individualistic society). The scenarios provided the basis for the identification and prioritisation of research needs to address the challenges and opportunities arising from the different scenarios. The resulting ten research priorities fall into four thematic areas: Towards healthier eating: integrated policy-making; Food, nutrients and health: cross-interactions and emerging risks; Making individualised diets a reality; and Shaping and coping with the 2050 food system.JRC.DDG.02-Foresight and Behavioural Insight

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to cocoa flavanols and maintenance of normal endothelium-dependent vasodilation pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

<p>Following an application from Nutrilinks Sarl, submitted for authorisation of a claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Belgium, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to <em>Opti</em><sub>EFAX</sub>™ and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations. The food that is the subject of the health claim, <em>Opti</em><sub>EFAX</sub>™, which is standardised pure krill oil, is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect. The claimed effect, maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations, is a beneficial physiological effect. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population. No human studies have been provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claim. A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of <em>Opti</em><sub>EFAX</sub>™ and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations.</p&gt