The food industry across Europe needs to make a big effort to reduce saturated fat in food regardless of whether national agencies set targets - and it should not wait around for governments to do all the awareness-raising with its consumers.
Last week the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) published its programme to reduce saturated fat intake from 13.3 per cent of energy intake to 11 per cent. It estimates that around 3,500 deaths from lifestyle-related diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity could be prevented each year if its recommendations are met.
The FSA's approach is two pronged. On the one hand, it is encouraging industry to reformulate products with less of saturated fat, overcoming the recognised technical challenges.
On the other, it is planning a campaign to raise awareness with consumers of the consequences of eating too much saturated fat.
The FSA's approach is two pronged. On the one hand, it is encouraging industry to reformulate products with less of saturated fat, overcoming the recognised technical challenges.
On the other, it is planning a campaign to raise awareness with consumers of the consequences of eating too much saturated fat.
In other countries where FSA equivalents have not yet introduced targets on saturated fat reduction, the industry really needs to be taking similar pre-emptive measures to avoid being taken unawares and chastised by consumers for avoiding the issue for too long.
