Simplified protocol for measuring trans-fatty acids content as a percentage of total fatty acids in food products: WHO laboratory protocol

Overview

Assessing and monitoring TFA content in the food supply and changes in trans-fatty acids (TFA) consumption in the population is one of the key action areas for countries in order to eliminate TFA. WHO first developed and published a reference laboratory protocol for measuring TFA in foods in December 2020 (WHO global protocol for measuring fatty acid profiles of foods, with emphasis on monitoring trans-fatty acids originating from partially hydrogenated oils). While this WHO reference protocol was successfully implemented in a number of laboratories worldwide, some laboratories, especially the ones operating with a limited budget, had challenges implementing it and requested to simplify the procedures and allow other suitable alternatives so that the protocol would be more easily used and globally applicable. In response to the requests, a two-day, virtual WHO expert consultation meeting was held on the 27th and 30th of June 2022 to discuss simplified procedures and other suitable alternatives that enable laboratories operating with limited resources to conduct fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. Based on the discussion held during the two-day WHO expert consultation, this new “WHO simplified protocol for measuring TFA content as a percentage of total fatty acids of food products” was developed.