Alarming new research has exposed that thousands of common packaged foods on Australian supermarket shelves contain hidden industrial trans fats, putting consumers at significant risk of heart disease and premature death.
The Hidden Danger in Plain Sight
An extensive analysis conducted by The George Institute for Global Health examined more than 28,000 packaged foods and drinks from major Australian supermarkets. The findings revealed a concerning gap in food labelling and safety.
While only four products explicitly listed partially hydrogenated oils - the primary source of industrial trans fats (iTFAs) - researchers discovered that more than 4200 products contained ingredients where the processing method and potential inclusion of iTFAs remained undisclosed.
Industrial trans fats are created by converting liquid vegetable oils into solid fats and are commonly found in cheaper fried and ultra-processed foods. These include popular items like biscuits, popcorn, pastry products, instant noodles, and frozen pizzas that fill Australian shopping trolleys.
Significant Health Risks Revealed
The health implications of these findings are substantial. Globally, iTFAs contribute to approximately 500,000 early deaths from heart disease each year.
Even in small amounts, industrial trans fats significantly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death, making their presence in thousands of food products particularly concerning for public health.
Among the 561 products that voluntarily reported trans fat content, a startling 32 percent exceeded the World Health Organisation's recommended limit of two percent of total fat - the threshold established to reduce heart disease risk.
Equally worrying, of the 336 products that contained only potential industrial trans fats, 31 percent also surpassed this safety limit.
Australia Lagging Behind Global Standards
Lead author Damian Maganja from The George Institute emphasized that the findings strengthen the global push to eliminate iTFAs from food supplies worldwide.
"This study shows that dangerous trans fats are still lurking in our food supply - and consumers have no way of knowing," Dr Maganja stated.
He highlighted that Australian labelling laws don't require companies to declare whether oils are partially hydrogenated or to list trans fat content, making it virtually impossible for shoppers to identify risky products.
Despite the World Health Organisation's call to eliminate industrial trans fats by 2025, Australia remains one of the few high-income nations without mandatory regulation. This places the country behind nations including Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom in food safety standards.
Dr Maganja issued a stark warning: "Without regulation, Australia risks becoming a dumping ground for unhealthy products that increasingly can't be sold elsewhere."
He further noted that this situation threatens the competitiveness of Australia's food industry abroad and allows harmful products to continue circulating, particularly affecting communities already facing disadvantage.
Researchers are now calling on Federal and State Governments to implement strong measures to eliminate industrial trans fats from the Australian food supply.
"Relying on the food industry to voluntarily reduce harmful ingredients isn't working in Australia," Dr Maganja concluded. "To truly protect public health, we need mandatory regulation."
