For the authors of this bill, it is a question of regulating this category of fatty acids, whose “consumption leads to a decrease in the level of good cholesterol”. They consider it necessary to regulate the quantity of “trans” fatty acid. by an indication on the packaging of the products concerned because they increase the risk of breast cancer in women in industrialized countries, according to a recent study by Inserm (National Institute for Health and Medical Research) and Gustave Roussy Institute.
What are trans fatty acids?
Used in the food industry as a stabilizer and as a preservative, trans fatty acids make foods firmer and more stable, therefore less conducive to rancidity. They are thus found in many processed food products such as pastries, industrial bread products, cookies, pizzas, quiches, etc. They are obtained by an industrial process: the hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
Strongly suspected of promoting cardiovascular disease, trans fatty acids are now banned in Denmark, and are banned from New York restaurants. In France, Afssaps recommends considering the value of 2% of total energy intake as a level of consumption that should not be exceeded.
