Trans-fatty acid content of food products in Spain in 2015

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the content of trans-fatty acids (TFA) in food products in Spain in 2015 and assess trends in TFA content since 2010.

Methods: We analysed the fat content of 277 food products purchased in Spanish supermarkets in 2015 and calculated both the total fat and TFA content and the proportion of TFA to total fats. The results obtained in 2015 were compared to those yielded by a similar study in 2010.

Results: In 2015, the majority of food products studied had a TFA content of less than 0.2g/100g product, and a TFA/total fat ratio of less than 2%. No significant increases were found compared to 2010. Food groups with a higher TFA content were dairy products of possible natural origin.

Conclusions: TFA content in Spain is low and has significantly fallen since 2010.

Keywords: Alimentos y nutrición; Calidad de los alimentos; Cardiovascular diseases; Diet; Dieta; Enfermedades cardiovasculares; Food and nutrition; Food quality; Nutrition policy; Políticas de nutrición; Reformulación; Reformulation; Trans-fatty acids; Ácidos grasos trans.