11th February 2009 - Expert report backs MEP’s campaign to ban trans fats

Linda McAvan yesterday received new backing in her long-running campaign to outlaw harmful trans fats.

For more than two years, Ms McAvan has been calling for an EU-wide ban on the fats – which were once common – and which have been linked to heart disease and infertility. As a result of rising public awareness trans fats, which are used to help preserve biscuits, fried and snack foods, have been removed from many products.

MEPs requested an independent scientific report and recommendations about how EU should respond. That report, which was discussed by MEPs in Brussels yesterday, says that there is strong evidence to suggest that artificial trans fats can cause cardiovascular disease, and that the EU should ban them.

Since April last year, Linda has been involved with a petition to ban trans fats, which can be found through her website: www.lindamcavanmep.org.uk. She is maintaining pressure on the European Commission to bring forward draft legislation.

Linda McAvan said:

“This report is another nail in the coffin of trans fats. There is a growing pile of evidence to show that they are not just unnecessary, but that they are damaging to health. Conditions like heart disease hit the poorest communities hardest. More than a quarter of a million people in our region already suffer from the disease. We should take an easy step to help to reduce the risk to others. We should ban trans fats altogether.”

The full European Parliament report is available to download by clicking here (PDF).