- Advertisement -
KARACHI, Nov 14 (APP):The Department of Food Science and Technology of the University of Karachi (KU), in collaboration with Nutrition International, on Friday organized awareness and training session focused on the elimination of industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFA) and the effective implementation of related measures.
The session aimed to educate relevant stakeholders about the harmful effects of iTFA on human health and the practical steps required for its mitigation.
Acting Vice Chancellor KU Professor Dr Muhammad Haris Shoaib emphasized in his address that this session was not only vital for raising awareness but also serves as an effective means to enhance the enforcement capacity of food authorities.
He stressed that immediate control of industrial trans fats was imperative, as they had become a major contributor to non-communicable diseases in Pakistan, particularly cardiovascular diseases.
On this occasion, KU’s Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Dr Bilqees Gul highlighted the importance of scientific research on the development of fats based on modified triacylglycerol structures.
She noted that improving the fatty acid profiles of various oilseed types can help reduce iTFA levels, offering a scientifically sound and effective alternative for public health.
The program was attended by Director General of Balochistan Food Authority Waqar Khurshid Alam along with his team, Technical Director of Sindh Food Authority Dr Ahmed Ali Shaikh, Director of PSQCA Ashraf Pahlari, Dr Tahira Zaheer, Dr Umar Mukhtar from PCSIR, and National Program Manager of Nutrition International Hafeezullah Gambhir with his team.
The KU’s Chairperson of the Department of Food Science and Technology Dr Muhammad Abdul Haq shed light on the challenges faced in producing iTFA-free products in the food industry. Meanwhile, the Associate Professor Dr Syed Muhammad Ghufran Saeed presented a detailed scientific analysis of the adverse health effects of fats containing more than two percent iTFA.
He shared that in Pakistan, six out of every 10 deaths were caused by non-communicable diseases annually and three out of those 10 were due to cardiovascular diseases, underscoring the severity of iTFA’s impact on public health.
At the conclusion of the program, all participants pledged to ensure strict compliance with existing regulations to keep trans fatty acid levels in edible fats below two percent.
They affirmed that this initiative was a significant step toward safeguarding public health and aligning Pakistan with global health standards.