The UK branch of Swiss food giant Nestlé is to remove hydrogenated vegetable fat and oil, known as trans fat or trans fatty acids (TFAs), from some of its confectionery products.
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“We are reformatting a small number of brands to remove or minimise the hydrogenated vegetable fat content,” a Nestlé UK spokeswoman was quoted by BBC News Online as saying.
“We are in the process of removing it from Rolo and Toffee Crisp and investigating how we can remove it from other brands,” she added.
Rival food and beverage company Cadbury Schweppes said it was also looking at removing trans fats from some of its products.
“As a responsible company, Cadbury Trebor Bassett has been examining the science behind TFAs in the diet for some time,” Tony Bilsborough, a spokesman for the confectionery arm of UK-based Cadbury Schweppes, was quoted by the BBC as saying.
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By GlobalData“Although the evidence is inconclusive, we are aware of rising levels of public concern and are looking at the available options to remove partially hydrogenated fat from the limited number of our products which are a source of TFAs.”
The UK’s Food Standards Agency says trans fats have no nutritional benefits and also affect blood cholesterol, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease.
Cereal manufacturer Kellogg also said it was looking into the issue of trans fats but said that only a few of its products contained the ingredient.
“We are seeking alternatives to trans fats, which are used in cereals such as Hunny Bs and Chocolate Frosties and Winders fruit snacks,” a spokesperson said.
“Most breakfast cereals have no fat in them, and those which do have got very low fat. Only a very very small number of our products have hydrogenated fats in them.”
The decision by food companies to try to remove trans fats from products comes amid widespread concerns over rising obesity rates.
Last week US food giant Kraft announced it would take steps to improve product nutrition, a move seen by some as a bid to ward off potential legal action. A recent report by JP Morgan named Hershey, Cadbury and Kraft among the food companies most at risk of being sued by consumers claiming their products contribute to obesity.
