Report on the UN Declaration on Trans-Fatty Acids and its Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Clash Between Public Health Policy and Development Goals

A draft United Nations declaration aimed at the global elimination of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has generated significant concern among a coalition of experts. The group argues that a blanket ban, failing to distinguish between industrial and naturally occurring TFAs, could severely undermine progress on several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The Central Conflict: Industrial vs. Natural Trans Fats

The Declaration’s Aim and its Link to SDG 3

The primary objective of the UN draft declaration is to reduce the global burden of NCDs such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. This aligns directly with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), specifically Target 3.4, which calls for a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs. The declaration proposes achieving this by eliminating TFAs from diets. The focus is on industrially produced trans fats (iTFAs), created through hydrogenation, which are known to:

• Raise cholesterol levels
• Promote inflammation
• Increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes

Expert Concerns Over Unintended Consequences

Critics contend that the declaration’s current language is too broad and risks creating unintended negative outcomes. A blanket commitment to eliminate all TFAs would also target naturally occurring ruminant trans fats (rTFAs) found in small amounts in meat and dairy products. The experts warn this would disproportionately harm populations in LMICs, directly conflicting with foundational development principles.

Analysis of Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The proposed policy poses a direct threat to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), particularly Target 2.2, which aims to end all forms of malnutrition.

1. Threat to Nutrition: In many LMICs, where undernutrition is prevalent, animal-source foods like milk and meat are vital sources of high-quality protein and essential, bioavailable micronutrients. Discouraging their consumption could worsen malnutrition.
2. Food Affordability: As of 2022, healthy diets were unaffordable for nearly three billion people globally. For these populations, animal-source foods, even in small quantities, provide critical nutrients that are otherwise difficult to obtain.
3. Child Development: The report highlights that even a single glass of milk per day can significantly improve child growth, demonstrating the crucial role these foods play in combating stunting and wasting during the critical first 1,000 days of life.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

While the declaration aims to advance SDG 3, a blanket ban could paradoxically lead to negative health outcomes.

• Three out of four deaths from NCDs occur in LMICs, making context-specific solutions essential.
• A critical link exists between undernutrition in early life and a higher risk of developing NCDs in adulthood. By potentially increasing malnutrition, the policy could inadvertently fuel the very diseases it seeks to prevent in the long term.

SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The policy, as currently drafted, risks exacerbating global disparities, running counter to the principles of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The nutritional and economic burden of this policy would fall most heavily on the world’s poorest populations, who are already struggling with food insecurity and have limited access to diverse diets. It threatens to widen the health and development gap between high-income nations and LMICs.

Recommendations for a Sustainable Path Forward

A Targeted and Context-Aware Approach

To align the public health goal with the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the expert group proposes the following revisions:

1. Differentiate Between TFA Sources: The final declaration must explicitly limit the elimination mandate to industrially produced trans fats, safeguarding the role of nutrient-dense animal-source foods containing natural rTFAs.
2. Reflect LMIC Realities: The language must acknowledge the unique nutritional challenges in developing countries, where undernutrition remains a primary concern.
3. Promote Moderation, Not Exclusion: The focus should be on promoting balanced diets and moderation, in line with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), rather than excluding entire food groups that are essential for vulnerable populations.

Experts urge that the final declaration must support a food systems transformation that eliminates harmful industrial ingredients without creating policies that punish the poor and undermine global efforts to achieve zero hunger and reduce inequality.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues that are directly and indirectly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus on nutrition, health, and inequality brings the following SDGs to the forefront:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This goal is central to the article’s main argument. The experts’ concern is that a blanket ban on all trans fats would discourage the consumption of nutrient-rich animal products (milk and meat), which are crucial for combating undernutrition, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The article explicitly mentions malnutrition, food security, and the nutritional needs of children, all of which are core components of SDG 2.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The entire context of the article is a UN declaration aimed at preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease, which directly aligns with SDG 3. The debate is about the best strategy to achieve this health outcome (reducing NCDs) without creating other negative health problems (undernutrition). It highlights the link between diet (trans fats, sugars, sodium) and health outcomes.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article repeatedly emphasizes the disproportionate impact of both NCDs and potentially flawed policies on poorer nations. It states that the “burden will fall heaviest on low- and middle-income countries” and that three out of four deaths from NCDs occur in these countries. The call to consider the “realities of low- and middle-income countries” is a direct appeal to reduce the inequality in health outcomes and policy impacts between nations.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article links the issues of nutrition and health directly to poverty. It mentions “the world’s poorest” and highlights that healthy diets are “unaffordable for almost three billion people globally.” The inability to afford nutritious food is a dimension of poverty, and the article argues that the proposed policy could exacerbate this challenge for the poor.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  A specific connection to gender equality is made when the article notes that “women typically facing greater food insecurity, which affects optimal breastfeeding and nourishment for children.” This points to a gendered vulnerability in the context of food and nutrition, making SDG 5 relevant to the discussion.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious food

   The article directly addresses this target by discussing the need to safeguard the consumption of “protein-rich, animal-derived foods” for the world’s poorest. The fact that “healthy diets were unaffordable for almost three billion people globally” shows the challenge in ensuring access to nutritious food for all.

2. Target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition

   This target is explicitly referenced through the discussion of “undernutrition in the critical first 1,000 days of life” and the importance of animal-source foods to protect against “nutrient deficiencies that contribute to alleviating significant undernutrition challenges.” The mention of children’s growth being improved by milk consumption also relates to ending malnutrition (stunting).

3. Target 3.4: Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases

   The article is framed around the “draft declaration on the prevention and control of so-called non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and heart disease.” The goal of eliminating industrial trans fats is a strategy aimed directly at achieving this target by reducing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

4. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome

   The experts’ letter is a call to prevent a policy that could create unequal outcomes. They argue that a “blanket commitment to eliminate all trans-fatty acids” would not consider the different realities of LMICs and would “unnecessarily discourage the consumption of highly nutritious dairy, meat and other animal-source foods” for populations that need them most, thus creating an inequality of outcome in nutrition and health.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

  • Prevalence of undernutrition: The article refers to “significant undernutrition challenges” and undernutrition “in the critical first 1,000 days of life” as key problems to be addressed.
  • Affordability of a healthy diet: The article provides a specific figure: “healthy diets were unaffordable for almost three billion people globally.” This can be used as a baseline indicator.
  • Consumption of specific nutrient-rich foods: The article suggests “average annual milk consumption” as an indicator, noting it can be “as low as 1kg” in some countries.
  • Child growth rates: The article mentions that “children who drink a glass of milk a day have been shown to grow three per cent more than those who do not,” implying that child growth is a key indicator of nutritional status.

• Indicators for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

  • Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease: The article provides a statistic for this indicator, stating that “Three out of every four people who die from such diseases [NCDs] are from low- and middle-income countries.”
  • Levels of dietary risk factors: The article’s focus is on eliminating “industrial sources” of trans fats and reducing “saturated fats, free sugars and sodium in processed food,” which are all measurable dietary risk factors.

• Indicators for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

  • Proportion of population living in poverty or food insecurity, disaggregated by country income level: The article implies this by repeatedly contrasting the situation in “low- and middle-income countries” with the global average or high-income contexts.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news-medical.net