The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) has implemented regulations on hydrogenated fats starting early May, with the aim of improving public health and reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes linked to excessive consumption of these fats.
During a press conference held on Sunday, Dr. Shaima Al-Asfour, Deputy Director General for Community Nutrition Affairs at PAFN, emphasized that this regulation aligns with international health standards and has been implemented in European countries since 2017 and in some neighboring countries. She affirmed the importance of eliminating industrial trans fatty acids to safeguard both citizens and residents of Kuwait.
Dr. Al-Asfour anticipates that the regulation will lead to a decline in heart disease, obesity, and diabetes rates, thereby enhancing the quality of life and reducing the financial burden on Kuwait’s healthcare system. She reiterated PAFN’s commitment to enforcing the regulation, ensuring that hydrogenated fats are deemed unsuitable for human consumption.
Additionally, Dr. Al-Asfour highlighted the necessity of preventing imported products containing hydrogenated fats from entering the Kuwaiti market. She noted that thorough testing of all imported food items will be carried out by PAFN inspectors, with laboratory testing of product samples to ensure compliance. This rigorous enforcement aims to earn Kuwait international recognition as a country free from trans or hydrogenated fats.
The regulation stipulates that food products must be entirely free of partially hydrogenated oils. If a product contains fully hydrogenated oils and is intended for final consumption or retail sale, the trans fat content must be less than two percent of the total fats. For products containing natural trans fats, the trans fat content should not exceed eight percent of total fats, unless specified otherwise in the product’s specifications. In the case of refined oils, the trans fat content must be below two percent of total fats in food intended for consumer sale, in accordance with technical regulation 2106 GSO. This regulation also applies to infant milk, follow-up milk, and milk intended for medical use, with a trans fat content cap of three percent of total fats.
Dr. Saud Al-Jalal, Deputy Director General for Control and Inspection Affairs at PAFN, explained that penalties for non-compliance include fines ranging from KD 500 to KD 1,000, as well as the removal of non-compliant products from the market. Violating companies may face suspension of activities and possible referral to the Public Prosecution. Violations that cannot be settled through fines will be forwarded to the Public Prosecution, which may decide to close the facility or imprison its owner. A grace period for compliance ends on May 1, during which inspection tours will be carried out in central markets, restaurants, and companies across all governorates.
