Leading progress on trans fat elimination in Mexico and Pakistan

30th July 2019

In July 2019, Heartfile and Mexico SaludHable held stakeholder meetings to start joint action on trans fat elimination in Pakistan and Mexico based on the REPLACE action package

Heartfile and Mexico SaludHable are recipients of grants to work on advocacy for trans fat elimination in their respective countries Pakistan and Mexico. They lead civil society in their countries to tackle the health burden caused by trans fat consumption by advocating for policy action to eliminate trans fats from the food supply.

Both organisations’ efforts to conduct detailed situational analysis and rallying stakeholders have culminated in stakeholder meetings in July 2019 to accelerate the process of regulatory action on trans fats.

Mexico SaludHable’s stakeholder meeting on 19 July in Mexico City was held in collaboration with PAHO’s Mexican country office and the support of the National Commission on Disease Prevention (CENPRECE), which forms part of the Ministry of Health. Participants included representatives of PAHO, various government agencies, medical associations as well as academics, in addition to civil society representatives. 

During the meeting, the situational analysis on trans fats in Mexico was presented as well as case studies of countries that have already taken action on trans fats. The need for policy action was discussed, including regulatory and advocacy options available to stakeholders in Mexico to eliminate trans fats from the food supply.

Heartfile co-hosted a dissemination event with WHO’s Pakistan office and the Nutrition Wing of the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination (MoNHSRC) in Islamabad on 11 July to present findings from research on trans fats in Pakistan to key government and non-government stakeholders with a view to arrive at a common understanding on the regulatory steps required for trans fat elimination. The two-part event consisted of presentations and workshops, during which a set of regulatory and advocacy measures were developed. The work will be taken forward by a Technical Working Group hosted by MoNHSRC.

The event was attended by key government and non-government stakeholders, including representatives of provincial food authorities and federal agencies, international organisations and national and international civil society organisations.