Scotland could become the first part of the UK to ban trans fats from food.
Richard Simpson, the Labour MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, and a former GP, launched a private member’s Bill yesterday that could prohibit shops and restaurants from selling food containing more than one per cent trans fats.
Trans fats, most commonly found in cakes, pastries and deep-fried food, are linked to coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, raised cholesterol levels and infertility in women.
Dr Simpson requires the backing of at least 18 MSPs in order for his Bill to proceed. If his attempt is successful, Scotland will make history by becoming the first part of the UK to take action on trans fats. The move would also bolster Holyrood’s credentials as a legislature that is serious about tackling the nation’s well-documented health problems.
In 2003, Scotland became the first part of the UK to implement a smoking ban in enclosed public spaces.
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Other governments have already accepted that trans fats pose a risk to health. In 2003, Denmark became the first country to prohibit the sale of food containing trans fat, a step later followed by Canada and the US.
Dr Simpson, who is a member of the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee, said a ban on trans fats would help tackle Scotland’s appalling health record. “Trans fats cause heart problems and Scotland is the worst in Europe for heart disease, so this is important in a Scottish context,” he said. “We are also only second in the world behind the US for obesity, which has also been linked with trans fats.”
Trans fats are produced when vegetable oil is chemically altered in a process known as hydrogenation to produce a solid with a longer shelf life that is used in some fast food and confectionery.
Dr Simpson pointed out that some Scottish pies and meat products were already produced without the use of trans fats, and argued that eliminating them would be a unique selling point. In the UK, several big name retailers, including Marks and Spencer, the Co-op, Waitrose, Sainsbury and Asda have voluntarily eliminated trans fats from their own-brand products, but others continue to include them.
Dr Simpson added: “The estimate is that we would save 50,000 lives across Europe if we banned trans fats.”