Alarming trans-fat levels in food despite regulations: BFSA

Edible oil

Dhaka, Apr 20 -Despite regulations to control harmful trans fatty acids in food the overall market situation remains alarming, said the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA).

It raised the concern at a seminar titled “Harmful Effects of Used Cooking Oil on Human Health and the Environment” held on Monday at the BFSA seminar room.

The awareness seminar was jointly organised by BFSA and Munzer Bangla Private Limited. BFSA Chairman Anwarul Islam Sarkar and Martin Shestag, Project Manager (South Asia) of Munzer Bioindustrie GmbH, were present at the event.

According to BFSA, analysis of edible oil samples collected across the country in FY 2024–25 revealed widespread non-compliance with safety standards.

Test results showed that 7 out of 11 soybean oil samples (63%), 93 out of 95 dalda samples (97%), 26 out of 30 butter samples (86%), and 6 out of 14 margarine samples (42%) contained trans fatty acids above the permissible limit.

The authority said that under the Trans Fatty Acid Control Regulations 2021, the maximum allowable limit of trans fat is 2 percent (excluding naturally occurring trans fat), effective from December 31, 2022.

The regulation applies to all processed, packaged and prepared foods, and products cannot be labelled as ‘trans fat-free” or “zero trans fat’.

BFSA officials said inspections in hotels and restaurants frequently detect irregularities, particularly the repeated use of burnt cooking oil, which poses serious health risks.

As part of its ongoing efforts, BFSA collects used cooking oil from restaurants and conducts awareness campaigns through bulk SMS, posters and TV scroll messages, urging traders and consumers to avoid repeated use of cooking oil.

The authority follows internationally recognised testing methods for detecting trans fatty acids, including those approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) and International Dairy Federation (IDF).

However, BFSA acknowledged several challenges, including limited laboratory capacity, shortage of skilled manpower, lack of chemical reagents and low public awareness.

In its presentation, Munzer Bioindustrie GmbH said cooking oil becomes hazardous when repeatedly heated at 180–200°C, leading to chemical changes that produce toxic compounds linked to heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses.

In Bangladesh, trans fat is mainly produced through two common practices: the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO), locally known as dalda or vanaspati, and the repeated reuse of cooking oil.

Another study revealed that PHO used in bakeries and restaurants can contain more than 10 percent trans fat, far above the WHO-recommended limit of 2 percent.

The presentation also noted that economic incentives drive many street food vendors and small traders to reuse cooking oil multiple times, degrading its quality and increasing toxic compound formation.

More than 100,000 tonnes of used cooking oil are generated annually, much of which re-enters the food chain illegally, posing a major public health risk.

Experts also highlighted household-level concerns, noting that used oil is often reused excessively, mixed with fresh oil, or disposed of through sinks and drains, contributing to environmental pollution and drainage blockages.

“Health does not begin in hospitals but in everyday life—especially in the kitchen,” said Ewald-Markus Munzer, Managing Director of Munzer.

Highlighting ongoing efforts, BFSA Deputy Director Ruhul Amin said the agency is expanding monitoring and awareness activities to control misuse of used cooking oil and improve food safety standards.

“During the last Ramadan, BFSA conducted 720 monitoring drives, inspecting different shops, hotels and restaurants. In many cases, business owners cooperated with us,” he said.

“We informed them how used oil can be properly disposed of, its optimal use, and that they can also receive financial benefits in return,” he added.

According to data presented at the event, Munzer Bioindustrie GmbH collects around 16 metric tonnes of used cooking oil annually.

However, between April and June 2023 alone, the company collected about 85 metric tonnes of burnt oil.

Officials said hotels and restaurants across the country have the potential to supply at least 100 metric tonnes of used oil, indicating significant opportunities for proper collection and recycling.

“To utilise this opportunity, we have brought together business owners, students and relevant stakeholders. Our goal is to raise awareness and build an effective supply chain so that used oil can be collected and reused properly,” a speaker said.

BFSA Member (Food Industry and Production) Professor Mohammad Shoeb also spoke at the event. - UNB