Fatty acid profiling (Trans fat analysis)

Fatty acid profiling is a process of analysing the composition and quantity of different fatty acids present in a sample. Fatty acids are organic molecules that are essential for a variety of biological processes in the body, including energy storage and membrane function. The analysis of fatty acid profiles is important for understanding the nutritional quality of food products and evaluating their health benefits or risks. Different types of fatty acids have different effects on the body, so understanding the fatty acid profile of a food can provide insight into its potential impact on health. ^[1].

Types of fatty acids ^[2]

There are several types of fatty acids, classified based on their chain length, degree of saturation, and position of the double bonds. Some common types of fatty acids include:

Why trans-fat is important to test and analyse?

Trans fat is important to test and analyse because it has been linked to a number of negative health effects. Trans fat is formed when unsaturated fatty acids are partially hydrogenated, a process that makes them more stable and less likely to spoil. However, trans fats have been shown to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and promote inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health problems. According to Arun Singhal, the chief executive officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2001, "Trans-fat content in food is a potential cause of heart disease and stroke. Indeed, comorbid medical conditions such as heart disease are a major risk factor for COVID-19". It has been observed that the majority of patients who died as a result of COVID-19 in India had comorbid conditions. We have decided to move forward with a proposed trans-fat limiting regulation because it is frequently required of the hour during the pandemic." Over 55000 people in India have died because of COVID-19, with the majority of them suffering from one or more comorbid conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and so on. ^[3].

Trans fat in foods

Trans fats are present in PHOs that are regularly used in fried foods. You’ll find trans fats in these foods ⁽⁴⁾.

• Baked foods like cakes, cookies, crackers, pie crusts, biscuits, and rolls
• Animal products
• Stick Margarine
• Fried potatoes, French fries, fried chicken
• Potato chips, microwave popcorn
• Household shortening
• Doughnuts, cinnamon rolls
• Non-dairy coffee creamer
• Fast foods
• Frozen pizza

Market overview ⁽⁶⁾

The fatty acids market is projected to experience significant growth in the coming years, with an estimated increase from $82.09 billion in 2022 to $89.7 billion in 2023, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. However, the recent Russia-Ukraine war has caused a disturbance in the global economy, leading to a short-term setback in the chances of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, the fatty acids market is anticipated to continue growing, with a projected size of $123.61 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 8.3%.

Initiatives in India and globally to get rid of Trans Fat ⁽⁷⁾

• Eat Right Movement: Launched in 2018, the programme is built on two broad pillars of 'Eat Healthy' and 'Eat Safe'.
• The Swachh Bharat Yatra: A Pan-India cyclothon was launched as part of the movement to educate citizens about food safety, food adulteration, and healthy diets.
• Heart Attack Rewind is a 30-second public service announcement that was broadcasted on social media platforms in 17 languages.
• The campaign's goal was to educate citizens about the health risks of trans fat consumption and to provide strategies for avoiding them through healthier alternatives.
• From January 2022, all food items must contain less than 2% trans-fat, according to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• The World Health Organization published REPLACE, a step-by-step guide for removing industrially produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply.
  
  

Regulations and standards ⁽⁸⁾

• Feb 2021: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has imposed a limit on trans fatty acids (TFAs) in food products, just weeks after enforcing the standards for oils and fats.
• Trans fats in oils and fats were reduced from 5% to 3% by 2021 and 2% by 2022 by FSSAI.
• Trans fat will be limited to 2% by mass of total oils/fats in food products beginning January 1, 2022.
• While FSSAI specifically mentions edible oils and fats, it also applies to emulsions like margarine.
• Even if there is less than 2% trans-fat in the fat/oil, repeated heating can increase the trans-fat content.
• The World Health Organization has called for the elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids from the world's food supply by 2023. (India will meet the target a year ahead of schedule.)
• Denmark was the first country to set a 2% limit on industrially produced trans fats in all foods.
• The EU adopted a new regulation limiting industrially produced trans-fat in foods sold within the EU to 2%.
• Trans fat can now be eliminated and replaced with healthier alternatives without affecting food taste or cost.
• According to WHO, a dozen large multinational food companies have already committed to remove industrially produced trans-fat from all of their products by 2023.
  
  

Testing methods ⁽⁹⁾

There are several testing methods for trans fats, including:

Eurofins role in  Fatty acid profiling

Eurofins is a leading company in food testing and analysis, including fatty acid profiling and trans fat analysis. The company offers a range of testing methods for trans fat analysis, including gas chromatography (GC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Eurofins also provides a range of services related to fatty acid profiling, including:

• Quantification of total fat content and individual fatty acid content in food products.
• Analysis of the fatty acid composition of food products, including saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Analysis of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid content in food products.
• Identification and quantification of trans fats in food products using GC, FTIR, and NMR methods.
• Consultancy services for food manufacturers on reducing or eliminating trans fats in their products.

In summary, Eurofins plays a critical role in fatty acid profiling, particularly in trans-fat analysis, by providing accurate and reliable testing services to ensure the safety and quality of food products.

References

1. Song, J., Park, J., Jung, J., Lee, C., Gim, S. Y., Ka, H., Yi, B., Kim, J., & Lee, J. (2015). Analysis of Trans Fat in Edible Oils with Cooking Process. Toxicological Research, 31(3), 307-312. https://doi.org/10.5487/TR.2015.31.3.307
2. https://www.scienceofcooking.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-fatty-acids.html
3. Chen, Y., Yang, Y., Nie, S., Yang, X., Wang, Y., Yang, M., Li, C., & Xie, M. (2014). The analysis of trans fatty acid profiles in deep frying palm oil and chicken fillets with an improved gas chromatography method. Food Control, 44, 191-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.04.010
4. https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Trans-Fat.aspx
5. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/a-toxic-chemical-that-kills-who-says-health-of-5-billion-people-at-risk-from-trans-fat-1.6242800
6. https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/fatty-acids-global-market-report
7. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/nutrition-trans-fat
8. https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/media/FSSAI_News_Trans_Fat_Tribune_10_02_2021.pdf
9. Salimon, J., Omar, T. A., & Salih, N. (2017). An accurate and reliable method for identification and quantification of fatty acids and trans fatty acids in food fats samples using gas chromatography. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 10, S1875-S1882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2013.07.016

Contact Us