[Greens-Media] Trans fats ban needed now to save lives

[John Kaye]

Trans fats ban needed now to save lives

Greens Media Release: 4 September 2006

The failure of the food labelling authority, FSANZ, and the 
Ministerial Council to protect Australians from the dangers of trans 
fats is putting thousands of Australian lives at risk, according to 
Greens spokesperson John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "The Food Regulation Ministerial Council is waiting 
until next year to consider trans fats, despite overwhelming evidence 
that they cause heart disease. Based on international evidence, 
between 850 and 2,800 Australians could be needlessly exposed to the 
risk of death from heart disease because of political inaction.

"The food labelling authority has been in denial about the health 
risks of trans fats. The Greens call on the Ministerial Council, 
which includes NSW's Health and Agriculture Ministers, to implement 
an immediate ban on trans fats.

"There is no safe levels of trans fat consumption, yet there are many 
foods commonly consumed by Australians that have dangerous levels of 
trans fats.

"It has been well known for at least sixteen years that trans fats 
are a double whammy for heart disease.  They deplete good 
cholesterols and increase bad cholesterols.

"Australian consumers are being left to the mercy of the food 
corporations. Community health is being sacrificed to prop up the 
dogma of self regulation, while heart disease claims thousands of 
unsuspecting victims each year.

"In Denmark, trans fats are effectively banned. Compulsory labelling 
of trans fats in the USA alerts consumers to the risks. Australia has 
neither of these protections. The Canadian parliament in moving to 
phase in a ban.

"The Greens call on NSW Health Minister John Hatzistergoes and 
Agriculture Minister Ian Macdonald to lobby their colleagues on the 
Ministerial Council to move immediately to ban trans fats. Australian 
consumers deserve the same protections as the Danish people," Dr Kaye said.


For more information:   John Kaye 0407 195 455


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John Kaye
email: john at nsw.greens.org.au
mob: 0407 195 455
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