From the NY Times earlier this week:
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave the food industry three years to eliminate artery-clogging artificial trans fats from the food supply, a long-awaited step that capped years of effort by consumer groups and is expected to save thousands of lives a year.
Are there trans fat trade disputes in our future? This is from the most recent U.S. Trade Policy Review:
Question 14. Indonesia also asks U.S. to review their policy on restrictions on trans-fat so that had no negative impacts to the market access on export of Indonesia food products to US.
RESPONSE: On 8 November 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a tentative determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), which are the primary dietary source of industrially-produced trans fatty acids (or trans fat) are not generally recognized as safe for any use in food based on current scientific evidence, and therefore are subject to regulation as food additives. This tentative determination was based on new scientific evidence and the findings of expert scientific panels regarding the health risks associated with the consumption of trans fat.
The comment period for that determination closed on 8 March 2014. FDA is currently evaluating the comments received and will implement any final determination regarding the regulatory status of trans fat in a manner consistent with our WTO obligations.
