Two party-list lawmakers have pushed for the enactment of a bill prohibiting the manufacture, distribution and sale of food with high trans-fatty acids TFA that are considered the “tobacco of nutrition” due to their adverse effect on health.
Reps. Alfred Delos Santos and Ronnie Ong of Ang Probinsyano party-list group appealed to Congress to give priority to the passage of House Bill 7200 and House Bill 7202 that they have filed separately.
They made the remarks after the House committee on health led by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan approved the consolidated bill on the proposed measure.
“We see the greater value of good nutrition during this time of pandemic. That we should be conscious of what we eat to boost our immune system and prevent getting sick or suffer from the deadly COVID 19 disease. As the saying goes: ‘health is wealth,”” said Delos Santos, a deputy majority leader as he lauded the measure’s passage at the committee level.
HB 7200, or the proposed Trans Fat-Free Philippines Act, prohibits the manufacture, distribution and sale of partially hydrogenated oil and oils and fats with high trans-fatty acids, as well as processed and prepackaged food with PHOs and high TFA content.
It would also punish false “TFA-free” claims and material misrepresentation in applications with the Food and Drug Administration for a Certificate of Product Registration.
“Studies have shown that the high intake of TFA can directly cause heart problems such as coronary heart disease. In fact, TFA is said to be the ‘tobacco of nutrition’ for it does not have any nutritional value, and can also lead to death. And so we are pushing for a TFA-free Philippines by having our bills enacted,” Delos Santos said.
He underscored the need for the government to help Filipinos have healthier options when food shopping since co-morbidities make a person more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, which has claimed the lives of about 8,700 Filipinos.
Close to 410,000 others had recovered since the virus outbreak early this year out of 477,039 total cases, Delos Santos said.