Cargill accelerates effort to remove trans-fatty acids by 2023-end

Cargill becomes first global supplier to commit entire edible oils portfolio to WHO’s best practice on industrially produced trans-fatty acids

As food manufacturers seek ways to help improve consumer diets, Cargill is supporting customers by committing to remove industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs) from its entire global edible oils portfolio.

This helps both Cargill and its customers comply with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended standard of a maximum two grams of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) per 100 grams fats/oils by the end of 2023.

The WHO’s REPLACE initiative provides a guide for governments and industry to implement a best practice on iTFA in the global food supply chain to address related health concerns. Cargill is the first edible oils supplier to make this commitment, joining many of the world’s largest food companies and members of the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) who have committed to the WHO goal.

Over the last 25 years, Cargill has removed an estimated one billion pounds (nearly 500,000 metric tons) of iTFAs from the global food supply, resulting in approximately 89 per cent of its global edible oils portfolio already meeting the WHO’s iTFA best practice.

The company will now achieve 100 per cent compliance, including in countries where there currently is no legislative mandate. To achieve this final 11%, the company is significantly investing in upgrades at several facilities to reduce the amount of iTFAs produced during the oil manufacturing process.