Cargill successfully removed industrially-produces trans-fatty acids from its entire fats and oils portfolio

Image courtesy of Cargill

Cargill (Minneapolis, MN) has announced that all the company’s fats and oils now comply with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended maximum tolerance level for industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) in fats and oils. According to the company, it is the first global supplier whose entire worldwide edible oil portfolio meets WHO’s best practice standards on iTFAs, even in countries where there is no legislative mandate. This standard limits iTFA content to no more than two grams per 100 grams of fats/oils. Cargill originally announced in December 2021 its commitment to remove iTFAs from its fats and oils portfolio, but the milestone represents decades of work, says the company in a press release.

“We’re pleased to see Cargill’s continued commitment to reduce industrially produced trans fats in all their oils, recently achieving their goal to align with the World Health Organization’s recommended standards,” said René Lammers, PepsiCo’s chief science officer, in a press release. “This move aligns with PepsiCo’s successful reduction of iTFAs in our foods to meet this same standard, and we encourage our fellow industry partners to join us in this important initiative to evolve our food and beverage portfolio to be better for the planet and people.”

According to Cargill, the company has invested $8.5 million in the past two years alone to upgrade facilities to reduce the amount of trans fat produced during oil processing. It has also works closely with over 100 customers in two dozen countries to reformulated new product solutions that meet their needs.

The WHO called for the global elimination of iTFAs by 2023 because trans fat intake of more than 1% of total energy is associated with coronary health disease and mortality. "We’re extremely proud that we’ve met our commitment and helped fulfill our purpose – nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way,” said Natasha Orlova, Cargill vice president for edible oils and managing director for North America, in a press release. “Taking this industry-leading step, even in countries without current iTFA legislation, helps ensure consistency in their supply chain for larger food manufacturers, while offering Cargill’s breadth of innovation and experience to smaller manufacturers.”

“We have proven it is not only feasible to meet the iTFA recommendations while being mindful of saturated fat levels, but it can also be done without discernably changing the taste or texture of consumers’ favorite foods. We call upon other industry players to follow our lead and remove iTFAs from all their products, too,” Orlova added. A recent report by WHO states that only 60 of the world’s countries have implemented policies limiting iTFAs, which represents about 43% of the global population.