FDA to publish trans fat rule today in Federal Register
June 17, 2015 |12:12 AM
Agriculture groups have had complicated reactions to the long-awaited trans fat rule to be published today in the Federal Register.
The American Soybean Association praised FDA for allowing a three-year time period for transitioning partially hydrogented oils (PHOs) from generally considered safe (GRAS) to removing them from American diets.
“ASA believes this compliance period will allow the U.S. soybean industry to ramp up production of high oleic soybean oil that can safely replace PHOs and highly saturated fats such as palm oil in many food applications,” the group said, noting it had called on FDA to build in the transition period.
“High oleic soybeans represent a key evolution in soybean farmers’ ability to meet the needs of our customers,” said ASA President Wade Cowan, a Texas farmer.
“But we’ve emphasized to FDA all along that we need the time to get the high oleic trait integrated into soybean varieties and approved in overseas markets so we can produce what the industry demands.”
“Soybean oil contains no trans fat, is low in saturated fat, is sustainable, and is a broadly available, domestic option for the food industry here in the United States,” he said. “
The American Feed Industry Association said FDA responded to its request “clarifying the prohibition only applies to human food and not animal food.”
“The FDA’s definition of ‘food’ represents both food for human consumption and food for consumption by animals other than man,” said Leah Wilkinson, AFIA director of ingredients, pet food and state affairs.
“Vegetable oils and partially hydrogenated oils have been deemed as safe ingredients in the animal food industry for decades, and we are glad FDA recognized that fact in its final determination today.”
The Environmental Working Group praised the rule as “a major victory for public health and for the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, which fought tirelessly for trans fat regulation for decades.”
But EWG also said that the rule “appears to retain a loophole that allows food processors not to disclose trans fat content of less than half a gram per serving” and “does not prevent food processors from using other hidden sources of trans fat, such as refined oils, fully hydrogenated oils, emulsifiers, flavors and colors.”
The American Soybean Association praised FDA for allowing a three-year time period for transitioning partially hydrogented oils (PHOs) from generally considered safe (GRAS) to removing them from American diets.
“ASA believes this compliance period will allow the U.S. soybean industry to ramp up production of high oleic soybean oil that can safely replace PHOs and highly saturated fats such as palm oil in many food applications,” the group said, noting it had called on FDA to build in the transition period.
“High oleic soybeans represent a key evolution in soybean farmers’ ability to meet the needs of our customers,” said ASA President Wade Cowan, a Texas farmer.
“But we’ve emphasized to FDA all along that we need the time to get the high oleic trait integrated into soybean varieties and approved in overseas markets so we can produce what the industry demands.”
“Soybean oil contains no trans fat, is low in saturated fat, is sustainable, and is a broadly available, domestic option for the food industry here in the United States,” he said. “
The American Feed Industry Association said FDA responded to its request “clarifying the prohibition only applies to human food and not animal food.”
“The FDA’s definition of ‘food’ represents both food for human consumption and food for consumption by animals other than man,” said Leah Wilkinson, AFIA director of ingredients, pet food and state affairs.
“Vegetable oils and partially hydrogenated oils have been deemed as safe ingredients in the animal food industry for decades, and we are glad FDA recognized that fact in its final determination today.”
The Environmental Working Group praised the rule as “a major victory for public health and for the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, which fought tirelessly for trans fat regulation for decades.”
But EWG also said that the rule “appears to retain a loophole that allows food processors not to disclose trans fat content of less than half a gram per serving” and “does not prevent food processors from using other hidden sources of trans fat, such as refined oils, fully hydrogenated oils, emulsifiers, flavors and colors.”
