Trans Fat
Last updated on March 6, 2019Trans fat comes in two forms:
- Naturally occurring in meat or dairy products, and
- Industrially produced in oils, spread and margarines.
It is the industrially produced trans fat from partially hydrogenated oils, margarine, and shortening that is harmful to our health.
Policies
On September 15, 2018, the federal government banned partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) from the food supply by adding PHOs to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods under Division 15, of the Food and Drug Regulations. The ban applies to all foods sold in Canada, including imported foods, and foods prepared and sold in food service establishments.
BC Trans Fat Regulation - Repealed
British Columbia was the first Province to act upon the 2006 report: TRANSforming the Food Supply, the final report of the Trans Fat Task Force, co-chaired by Health Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
From September 30, 2009 to February 11, 2019, British Columbia restricted the amount of trans fat served in food service establishments. Environmental Health officers across the Province inspected over 167,000 sites and compliance rates were 95, 98, and 97 percent respectively for the documentation requirements, the 2 percent restriction for soft margarines and oils, and the 5 percent restriction for all other foods.
BC’s Trans Fat Regulation became redundant when the federal ban on the manufacture of PHOs came into force on September 15, 2018. On February 11, 2019, the Province of British Columbia repealed its Trans Fat Regulation.
Healthier Choices in Vending Machines
The trans fat recommendations in the Healthier Choices in Vending Machines BC Public Buildings Policy are based on the BC Trans Fat Regulation. Learn more about the Healthier Choices in Vending Machines Policy.
Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools
The trans fat recommendations in the Healthier Choices in Vending Machines BC Public Buildings Policy are based on the BC Trans Fat Regulation.
Resources
Resources for Industry
Looking for information on the BC Trans Fat Regulation? The Restrict Trans Fat Website contains all the regulatory requriements as well as support for the food industry to understand and implement the regulation. Materials are available in multiple languages.
Resources for the Public
Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC is available online and by calling 8-1-1 to answer trans fat and other diet and nutrition-related questions.