The NCD Alliance (NCDA) has teamed up with Resolve to Save Lives to implement actions in support of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) REPLACE action package, a step-by-step guide for the elimination of industrially-produced trans fat from the global food supply.

Consumption of industrially-produced trans fat (common in baked goods and pre-packaged foods) is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, a noncommunicable disease (NCD) worldwide. It is estimated to contribute to over half a million deaths every year.

Several high-income countries have already eliminated industrially-produced trans fat from food. The goal of Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, is to completely remove this toxic substance from the global food supply. This will protect and safeguard the health of populations and save lives, contribute to tackling inequalities in health, and deliver major savings in cardiovascular-related healthcare costs.

“Involvement of civil society, especially on the ground, is essential to fight the rapidly spiraling burden of NCDs, by holding governments accountable for implementing policies and regulation, as well as monitoring industry action and compliance. The NCD Alliance looks forward to supporting our partners to build the demand for action through community mobilization.” - NCDA CEO Katie Dain

The elimination of industrially-produced trans fat from the global food supply is a priority target of WHO’s current strategic plan and is identified as an effective and cost-effective policy measure to save lives.

“We are proud to team-up with Resolve to Save Lives, to accelerate the implementation of the REPLACE action package in low- and middle-income countries,” said Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance.

Civil society: accountability, monitoring

“Involvement of civil society, especially on the ground, is essential to fight the rapidly spiraling burden of NCDs, by holding governments accountable for implementing policies and regulation, as well as monitoring industry action and compliance. The NCD Alliance looks forward to supporting our partners to build the demand for action through community mobilization.”

The WHO REPLACE action package provides countries with a roadmap to implement actions across six strategic areas, based upon sound evidence, technical know-how and the experience of many countries. REPLACE actions to ensure the prompt, complete, and sustained elimination of industrially-produced trans fat from the food supply are:

• REview dietary sources of industrially-produced trans fat and the landscape for required policy change;
• Promote the replacement of industrially-produced trans fat with healthier fats and oils;
• Legislate or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans fat;
• Assess and monitor trans fat content in the food supply and changes in trans fat consumption in the population;
• Create awareness of the negative health impact of trans fat among policy makers, producers, suppliers and the public;
• Enforce compliance of policies and regulations.

Through this partnership, NCDA will leverage evidence and good practices to build the demand for effective policies and action on trans fat globally, and support awareness raising, uptake and implementation of the REPLACE action package by governments, U.N. agencies, business and broader civil society.

This will be done at national levels, via work with selected partners in Mexico and Pakistan, to support effective implementation. NCDA also will activate change through grassroots efforts by mobilising civil society to drive country-level action and impact on trans fat for a trans fat-free world.

Resolve to Save Lives website