The Word Hypertension Day 2021 will be observed on Monday with the theme "Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer" aiming to increase high blood pressure (BP) awareness across the globe.

On the occasion, PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), an advocacy and research organisation, has called for finalising draft “Regulations on Trans Fatty Acids Control in Foodstuffs, 2021” soon to limit trans fat in food for reducing the risks of non-communicable diseases.

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is now working to finalise the draft with the aim of building a trans fat-free Bangladesh.

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According to the recently published ‘Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18’, one in every four adults in Bangladesh is suffering from hypertension, which increases risks of heart diseases and stroke, said a press release of PROGGA on Sunday.

Healthy diet and healthy lifestyle habits are very important to keep the heart healthy as well as to keep blood pressure in check. Elimination of toxic trans fat from food can be a pivotal initiative in this regard.

Trans fatty acid (TFA) or trans fat in food elements is harmful for health. Trans fat is found in bakery items, dalda or bonospoti ghee, as well as in foods prepared with it. Besides, using the same cooking oil for multiple cycles to prepare deep fried food can create trans fat that increases risks of heart diseases.

Also read: Draft regulations on trans fatty acids opened for public consultation

The WHO has set the target to eliminate industrially produced trans fat from the global food supply by 2023 to reduce risks of premature deaths caused by heart diseases.

On the eve of World Hypertension Day 2021, PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair said, “The extent of non-communicable diseases in our country is mounting day by day. Elimination of trans fat from food is undoubtedly a cost-effective measure for the government. It can help reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and simultaneously reduce the health service costs of the government.”