State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection joins efforts to eliminate trans fats: focus on health and European standards
In Ukraine, systematic work continues to reduce and gradually eliminate trans fats from food products – an important area of state policy in the field of public health. The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is actively involved in this process and took part in a specialised meeting organised by the WHO Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Centre.
The event brought together representatives of state bodies, the scientific community, business, and civil society. Participants discussed the results of research on trans fat content in products and outlined further steps for the effective reduction of their levels on the Ukrainian market.
According to WHO data, around 278,000 deaths worldwide each year may be linked to trans fat consumption. These substances significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and often remain “invisible” to consumers. That is why limiting them is primarily a matter of state control and responsible policy.
The first large-scale data were obtained in 2023 as part of the WHO FEEDcities study. 120 food samples were analysed – both industrially produced and street food. The results showed that more than 30% of them exceeded the maximum permissible level of trans fats.
In 2025, the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection carried out additional monitoring, which confirmed that despite some positive progress, the problem remains relevant. Nearly 300 samples of products were examined – from fats and oils to ready-made and industrially fried products. 18 cases of exceeding permissible limits were recorded, in some instances by dozens of times.
Categories at increased risk include:
- confectionery and bakery products
- margarines and spreads
- certain yoghurt desserts
The research results confirm that even with existing legislative restrictions, the issue of trans fats requires further attention. Meeting participants agreed to focus joint efforts on several key areas:
- strengthening state monitoring and control
- developing laboratory capacity
- deepening cooperation with manufacturers
- forming cross-sectoral partnerships to create a healthy food environment
For Ukraine, the elimination of trans fats is not only an important step in strengthening public health, but also confirmation of the effectiveness of state policy and its alignment with the best international and European practices.