Trans fatty acids in foods in Europe : the TRANSFAIR study

One of the aims of the TRANSFAIR study is to provide reliable and comparable data ontransfatty acid (TFA) content of foods in Europe. We performed a market basket study in 14 European countries. In each country, a maximum of 100 food samples representative of the total fat intake were sampled according to a standardized stepwise approach. Samples were analyzed for fat content and fatty acid composition in one central laboratory. This paper describes the design of the market basket study and the analytical methods. Detailed results of separate food groups are presented in the following four separate papers. The current health concern on TFA seems to have resulted in a number of consumer products like soft margarines that are low in TFA. On the other hand, shortenings, frying fats, and convenience foods are frequently high in TFA. There may not be a health benefit if a reduction in TFA is achieved by a similar increase in saturated fatty acid. Moreover, health implications are dependent on overall consumption patterns and these will be studied in the second part of the TRANSFAIR study. © 1998 Academic Press