S5 Liberal Studies – News Portfolio / 30

Deadline: 10 Dec, 2018

Type of info.:  News report  Commentary  Others Related modules:
Source: RTHK Hong Kong Connection  Personal dev.  HK Today  Modern China
Date: 5/11/2018  Globalization  Public Health  Environment
Issue: Trans-fats
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxu2ylLg2js
Background of the issue: 4M (e.g. Details of the situation/ problem giving rise to this policy in 50-100 words)
There is no or minimal legislation on banning or reducing trans – fats in Hong Kong. Considering the
production costs and shelf – life of products, many food companies and restaurants would produce
menus with high trans – fat. Moreover, Hong Kong citizens have low awareness and knowledge
towards the health impacts of trans – fat. The loop holes in the food labels, which allows companies to
label amount of trans – fats as 0g in their products as long as it contains less than 0.3g per 100g, let
food companies to hide their amount of trans - fats. Thanks to these, Hong Kong citizens are likely to
consume trans – fats which exceeds the amount of that recommended by the WHO. Thus, they have a
bad eating habit and health.

Related concepts: 6M (List out at least 6, exclude those used in the Q set by the teacher and names of modules and
themes.)
1) Social responsibility
2) World Health Organisation
3) Health awareness
4) Lifestyle disease
5) Food industry
6) Food labelling 43

Controversial point(s): 2M In the form of questions, state: Concerning this issue, different stakeholders are/ the
society is debating over……
1) Should trans – fats be banned in Hong Kong?

Analysis: Discuss two factors affecting HK people’s opinions on regulation of trans-fat by legislation.
(6M)

Firstly, the level of health awareness of HK people affect their opinions on regulation of trans –
fats by legislation. When HK people have high health awareness, they would acknowledge the harms
brought by trans – fats. For example, they would be aware that high trans – fats food contains more
“bad” cholesterols which causes deadly heart diseases and hypertension. As those people put more
emphasis on health, they would pay attention on their diet in order to be healthy. Since trans – fats is
harmful to their bodies, they would avoid consuming it. Therefore, they would support the regulation of
trans – fats by legislation as a complete ban could help them to eliminate the risk of consuming trans –
fats unconsciously.

Secondly, the price of food would affect HK people’s opinions on regulation of trans – fat. When
there is a legislation of trans – fats, such as banning, the price of food would rise. Trans – fats are
mainly come from cheap reused oil and hydrogenated plant oil. Companies would need to use more
expansive alternatives. This increases the costs and thus the food price will rise. Especially for the
lower class, they may not afford the more expensive products. This would add financial burden since
the living costs is raised. We could not make a living, so let alone paying attention on their health.
Thus, they would oppose the idea of implementing legislation as this would add pressure on grassroots’
lives.
(UNDERLINE the related concepts and knowledge applied)

Personal opinion:  Suggest 3 ways different stakeholders can do to alleviate the problem of use of
trans-fat in Hong Kong. (8M) /  Do you agree that the government should regulate the use of trans-fat
by legislation? (8M)

Firstly, for the government, it should implement legislation on trans – fats. The government could
implement legislation like banning trans – fats to alleviate the problem of use of trans – fats. Successful
cases, such as California, had implemented laws ban trans – fats. By doing so, it can safeguard public
health as no trans – fats would be allowed and this could isolate HK citizens with unhealthy trans –
fats. Nowadays, there are no legislations on monitoring the use of trans – fats. The loopholes in food
labelling also allows food companies to their amount of trans – fats as companies can label amount of
trans – fats as 0g in their products as long as it contains less than 0.3g per 100g. With legislations, food
industries are forced to use healthier alternatives with no trans – fats. This helps HK citizens to have a
better diet and reduce the use of trans – fats.

Secondly, for HK citizens, they should pay more attention on their health buy choosing products
with low trans – fats. Nowadays, HK citizens have very low awareness on the impact brought by trans
– fats. Thus, the food industry pay little attention on the amount of trans – fats in their products since it
would not affect its sales. When HK citizens have high health awareness, they would pay attention to
the food labels and choose products with low trans – fats. Products with low trans – fats would be
likely to be abandoned. For the food industry, different companies may lower the amount of trans – fats
so as to attract more customers and maintain its competitiveness. This could help reducing the
excessive use of trans – fats in the food industry.

Thirdly, for the enterprises, they should fulfil their social responsibilities by using less trans – fats
or using alternatives. For example, Mr Chong who specialises in making eggtarts, uses more expensive
animal fats to make his crust since it is healthier for his customers. Although it adds to his costs, he pay
his social responsibility in considering the health of the public. Apart from making profits, enterprises
should put emphasis on the impact on the public of their products. They are one of the society member
and should not be merely focus on their personal interest. They should try their best to minimise the
amount of trans – fats or use alternatives so as to provide a healthier product for their customers.

(UNDERLINE the related concepts and knowledge applied)

Please attach at least TWO pieces of relevant information to support your analysis and personal opinion.
Highlight the information used. (4M)

FDA Bans Trans Fats: What Does This Mean for Palm Oil Consumption in the US?

LAEL GOODMAN, ANALYST, TROPICAL FOREST & CLIMATE INITIATIVE | JUNE 16, 2015,
10:05 AM EST
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today moved to ban the use of partially hydrogenated
oils, the main dietary source of artificial trans fats, after determining they are not safe to use in food.
This move is hardly surprising, given that in November of 2013, the FDA made this preliminary
determination. The announcement by the FDA likely means an increased amount of palm oil
(a transfat-free vegetable oil) in the diet of Americans and an opportunity for companies to source only
palm oil that is deforestation and peat-free.

One of the first uses for partially hydrogenated vegetable oils was as a butter substitute.
Image: Diane Duane

Trans fats in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils

Trans fats can be formed by chemically modifying vegetable oils such as soybean oil. By adding
hydrogen atoms, one can cause some oils to solidify into a texture similar to that of many oils high in
saturated fats, making them useful in a wide variety of food applications. This process was first
discovered at the turn of the 20th century but gained wider use during World War II as rationing cut
into butter supplies. While naturally occurring trans fats can be found in small amounts in some
animal products, the majority of trans fats in diets come from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
However, numerous studies point to a link between these trans fats and heart disease. The FDA
initially proposed mandatory labeling of trans fats on packaging labels in 1999, and this was later
enacted in 2006. Requiring these labels not only allowed consumers the ability to make their own
decisions about their trans fat intake, but it also pushed the industry to move away from trans fats in
partially hydrogenated vegetable oils before it became a requirement.
Some places in the United States took further steps. In 2006, New York City banned trans fatty acids
in restaurant food and California restricted the use of trans fats statewide. The next step in the process
came a year and half ago with the preliminary announcement that partially hydrogenated vegetable
oils were no longer generally recognized as safe. This listing means that partially hydrogenated
vegetable oils would need additional approval before being added to foods.
And today, the FDA took the final step by banning the use of trans fats from partially hydrogenated
vegetable oils.
Palm oil steps up to the plate

As companies have begun to reduce their reliance on partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in response
to forced labeling and health concerns, palm oil has been a preferred replacement oil for food
manufacturers because unlike most vegetable oils, is a solid at room temperature. This is due to the
high degree of saturation of palm oil, which also has implications for health.

Already palm oil imports in the United States have grown dramatically since the early 2000s when
many companies began to restrict use of trans fats and thus partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. In
2012, the United States imported around seven times as much palm oil as it had in 1999 when the FDA
first proposed mandatory labeling. While the increase can likely be attributed to numerous factors,
including the low cost of palm oil in relation to other vegetable oils, the decreasing use of partially
hydrogenated oils played a role.
Thus although American consumers have already likely experienced an increase in palm oil
consumption as food manufacturers reduced their use of partially hydrogenated oils, this new FDA
announcement makes it likely that Americans will have even more palm oil in their diet.

This announcement is an opportunity for palm oil, and even more, an opportunity for deforestation-
free palm oil. American consumers have been demanding that the palm oil in their favourite products
is free from the destruction of tropical forests and carbon-rich peatlands. As companies continue to
use palm oil to fill the gap left by the removal of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, an increase in
demand for palm oil should in fact be an increase in demand for only deforestation-free palm oil.
Let’s use this new ban on trans fats in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil to not only improve the
heart health of Americans, but to save tropical forests around the world.

SCMP.COM
A ban on trans-fats is the way to go

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 27 March, 2014, 4:45am

UPDATED : Thursday, 27 March, 2014, 4:45am
Comment›Insight & Opinion
LEADER
SCMP Editorial
Protecting public health should be a government's top priority. That is what the US
administration is doing in seeking to ban artificial trans-fats in food. Controversial as it is, the
step is pivotal in the long crusade to remove the artery-clogging ingredient from the American
diet.

The move has also renewed the momentum for governments around the world to consider
doing the same. Countries such as Denmark and Switzerland have long outlawed trans-fats in
food processing. The Hong Kong legislature joined the international debate with a motion in
favour of a ban in 2007; but the government subsequently opted for a law that mandates
information on trans-fats and other ingredients in nutrition labels. Guidelines on reducing
trans-fats, widely used in pastries and dairy products to improve texture and prolong shelf life,
have also been issued.

Critics argue that eating is a personal habit. The labelling law is good enough in that it helps
consumers to make their own choices. Those fighting the ban in US take it as a liberty issue,
warning of a "nanny state" if what people put in their mouths becomes government business.
But the other side of the argument is public health. Labelling does not make food healthier. To
ensure harmful additives do not make it to the shelf, a ban is the sensible way to go.

Last June, a laboratory test found that three popular mainland milk-powder brands also
contained trans-fats at levels of 0.4 and 0.6 grams per 100 grams. The levels fall within
mainland and international safety standards, but the content was not indicated on nutrition
labels.

There is no shortage of scientific evidence to prove that the risk of coronary heart disease is
increased substantially as a result of trans-fat consumption. According to the US Food and
Drug Administration, the proposed ban can prevent 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths a
year. It is good to hear that officials are monitoring the international development. There is a
strong case for Hong Kong and the mainland to follow.