The Punjab Oil Mills Limited has introduced first ever Trans Fat free Banaspati, "Zaiqa" in Pakistan which contains less than 1.5 % Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) as compared to an ordinary Banaspati with a Trans Fats ratio of up to 20%.
The Director, Planning & Development, Punjab Oil Mills Limited, Usman Illahi Malik disclosed this in a press conference held in a local hotel on Thursday.
Malik referred to the latest scientific data that the TFAs cause coronary heart diseases as they increase the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol and lipoproteins in blood while decreasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Replying to a question about current competitors of their trans fat free product "Zaiqa" he claimed there is no competitor except one multinational company.
He also said that WHO has already recommended phasing out the TFAs from all sorts of food items including fast food and fried food as well as from the Banaspati Ghee. Following the recommendation by WHO, Denmark, USA and many other European countries have also banned the high level TFAs based Banaspati and cooking oils, he added.