At Sunday's session of the CWU Conference 2010, Motion 105 was accepted by the National Executive. The prop dealign specifically with the issue of the use of trans-fats in food production, reflected the fact that a campiagn to force the food industry to cease the use of trans-fats and accept that over ten years ago senior food scientists were warning of the 2epidemic in heart disease" that would follow with the continued use of trans-fats in food.

The food uindustry as recently as 2009 at a conference held in Liverpool, The Big Food Debate, refused to accept the facts about heart disease levels and the connection with trans-fats used in food manufacturing and processing. Clearly only a public campaign and pressure from the Government will force them into addressing this issue.

The terms of proposition 105 are:

"This Conference instructs the incoming NEC to campaign via the TUCand Government for a ban on Trans-Fat & Industrial fats added to food which has no nutritional value but is very damaging to heart and health".

Responding immediately, the CWU's National Health, Safety & Environment Officer Dave Joyce issued a letter to branches, LTB461/10 which is reproduced below:

A recent report published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on "Trans-Fat" stated that " On the basis of current disease rates, a strategy to reduce consumption of industrial TFAs by even 1% of total energy intake would be predicted to prevent 11 000 heart attacks and 7000 deaths annually in England alone." Reproduced below is advice and guidance issued by the NHS on 'Trans-Fats'.

What are trans fats?
Trans fats are chemically altered vegetable oils. They are produced artificially in a process called hydrogenation which turns liquid oil into solid fat.

Trans fats can be found in thousands of processed foods from sweets and biscuits to ready meals. They are used because they are cheap, add bulk to products, have a neutral flavour and give products a long shelf life. They have no nutritional value.

Are trans fats bad for you?
Trans fats have been linked to high cholesterol, which can lead to health conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

A study suggests that trans fats can also increase the risk of fertility problems. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, USA, say that consuming just 4g of trans fats every day can lead to infertility in women.

Avoiding trans fats
In the UK, there is no specific requirement for the trans fat content of products to be included on food labelling. However, some manufacturers have started to do so voluntarily.

Trans fats can be formed during a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenated fats must be declared on the label so if a product contains hydrogenated fats, it may contain trans fats. Look out for the words partially hydrogenated on food labels these products may also contain trans fats.

If you want to avoid trans fats you should:

* avoid products that list hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated or shortenings on the label,
* include lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet,
* use fat-free or low-fat dairy products,
* avoid fast food, high and full fat margarine and baked goods such as doughnuts, pastries and biscuits,
* use lean cuts of meat and poultry and cook them without skin, without adding trans fats,
* use liquid vegetable oil for frying, and
* ask about trans fat content when eating at a restaurant or café.

Letters have been sent to James Paice MP Defra Minister of State, Brendan Barber General Secretary of the TUC plus the main employers regarding the Motion.

Source: CWU LTB461/10