Turkey bans 'no trans fat' signage to prevent food misinformation
Turkey will no longer allow for food items to display the phrase "no trans fat," the Turkish government's Official Gazette reported on Dec. 14. A ministry official said that the regulation aimed to prevent misconceptions, as the sign makes buyers think that items without the signage must contain trans fats.
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Turkey will no longer allow food products to display "no trans fats" sign, if a draft bill published in the Turkish government's Official Gazette on Dec. 14 passes the parliament. The reason for the change is that consumers may think foods without the signage must contain trans fats, an Agriculture and Forestry Ministry official said.
"When the label says 'no trans fats,' it creates the misconception that other food items have them. We want to prevent this," food inspector Harun Seçkin said.
Turkey also recently limited the amount of trans fats allowed in any given food to two percent with a May regulation, as trans fats increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and circulation problems.
Meanwhile, the Turkey Food Associations Federation challenged the ruling on the grounds that it creates more disinformation even though it is an attempt to prevent misconceptions.