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Rally for Food Safety in Pakistan: Demand Strong iTFA Regulations!
Pakistan Y.
started this petition to
Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA)
Pakistanis are facing a silent threat—industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (iTFAs)—which lurk in their everyday food.
Pakistan has the second-highest intake of iTFAs in the WHO-EMRO region after Egypt. Banaspati ghee , bakery fats, biscuits, several types of pastas, chocolates, street foods like jalebis , samosas , pakoras , potato chips, and ultra-processed foods are all high sources of iTFAs in the diet.
Despite this, there has been limited progress in introducing necessary measures to regulate the presence of iTFAs across all dietary sources in the country.
The continued, unregulated presence of iTFAs in several food items is a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and infertility in both men and women. Consequently, the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to burden the nation's health and economic indicators. Cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes are among the major killers of Pakistanis and also impacting the country’s economy. For instance, the annual cost of diabetes management was estimated to be $2640 million in 2021. Pakistan is ranked number one globally regarding the prevalence of diabetes. If no immediate policy action taken, it is projected that 62 million Pakistanis will be living with diabetes by 2045.
Though there has been some limited progress in regulating iTFAs in a few categories of foods, but sadly, Pakistan has missed the WHO's set timelines for countries to regulate iTFAs by 2023 across all foods, putting the health of the entire nation at risk.
Support the TRANSFORM Pakistan Campaign and call upon the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for immediate action to set a mandatory limit of no more than 2g of iTFA in every 100g of oil and fats across all foods.
Your signature will play a critical role in urging the government to expedite efforts towards passing the best practice policy regulation on iTFAs, ensuring that the food consumed by the Pakistani population is safe and healthy!
Pakistan has the second-highest intake of iTFAs in the WHO-EMRO region after Egypt. Banaspati ghee , bakery fats, biscuits, several types of pastas, chocolates, street foods like jalebis , samosas , pakoras , potato chips, and ultra-processed foods are all high sources of iTFAs in the diet.
Despite this, there has been limited progress in introducing necessary measures to regulate the presence of iTFAs across all dietary sources in the country.
The continued, unregulated presence of iTFAs in several food items is a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and infertility in both men and women. Consequently, the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to burden the nation's health and economic indicators. Cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes are among the major killers of Pakistanis and also impacting the country’s economy. For instance, the annual cost of diabetes management was estimated to be $2640 million in 2021. Pakistan is ranked number one globally regarding the prevalence of diabetes. If no immediate policy action taken, it is projected that 62 million Pakistanis will be living with diabetes by 2045.
Though there has been some limited progress in regulating iTFAs in a few categories of foods, but sadly, Pakistan has missed the WHO's set timelines for countries to regulate iTFAs by 2023 across all foods, putting the health of the entire nation at risk.
Support the TRANSFORM Pakistan Campaign and call upon the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for immediate action to set a mandatory limit of no more than 2g of iTFA in every 100g of oil and fats across all foods.
Your signature will play a critical role in urging the government to expedite efforts towards passing the best practice policy regulation on iTFAs, ensuring that the food consumed by the Pakistani population is safe and healthy!
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