Medical

What are the dangers of hydrogenated fats and how do they affect heart health?

Muscat: Ms. Khalsa bint Salem Al-Rawahi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Consumer Protection Association, revealed details about the relationship between partially hydrogenated fats and cardiovascular diseases, as well as trans fats and their harm to human health.

In a special interview for the “Ma’a Al Shabiba” show, she said that the Association organised a symposium on the subject of oils and fats in the food industry, shedding light on it because of its great importance for consumer health.

The topics of the symposium were: addressing the types of fats and oils in the food industry, the health aspects of these oils and fats and their relationship to various diseases, and how the consumer chooses these fats and oils by knowing the type of fats and oils used in industries and found naturally in food.

The symposium was attended by a lecturer from Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives Company, who explained the types of oils manufactured in the Sultanate of Oman.

There was a paper on fats and oils in the food industry for a healthier and better choice. Another paper was on the impact of fats in the food industry on the consumer and the health aspects related to oils and fats in the food industry. It also tackled the relationship of partially hydrogenated fats to cardiovascular diseases, as well as trans fats and their harms and risk analysis for the manufacture of oils and fats. The final paper was on partially hydrogenated oils and their control mechanisms, which was presented by a lecturer from the Food Safety and Quality Center.

Khalsa Al-Rawahi said that the symposium came out with many recommendations, which were submitted to the competent authorities through HE Sheikh Said Al-Khasibi, President of Oman Association for Consumer Protection.

Source: Times of Oman