The Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. is taking actions to help its citizens by taking the necessary procedures to take out partially hydrogenated oils which are the major factor of trans-fats. Although there is a large demand for the trans-fat containing foods such as many types of pizza, hamburgers, potato chips, and other classic American foods, the FDA is putting a stop to trans-fat for the health of the citizens.
From a business stand point of view, this could hurt many businesses as the businesses who have used partially hydrogenated oils had no problem selling their products but due to the ban, they may have to find an alternative of the oil which could result in either a more expensive substitute or a substitute that would change how the food tastes or worst case scenario, both of those cases.
The article also mentions that a lot of food services had taken out trans-fat causing oils out of their products even before the FDA had announced the upcoming elimination of the oils. This could also be thought of as a business ethics problem. Does the producer use trans fat oils knowing it will be detrimental to customers but cheaper for them to produce or does the producer spend a little more to make a healthier product?
FDA’s actions will certainly have a significant effect on many businesses.
References: Mulholland, A. (2013, November 07). u.s. fda moves to ban artery-clogging trans fats, no timeline set.Ctvnews. Retrieved from http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/u-s-fda-moves-to-ban-artery-clogging-trans-fats-no-timeline-set-1.1532101
Picture: Markstein, G. (Photographer). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.tuscany-diet.net/lipids/trans-fatty-acids/
“From a business stand point of view, this could hurt many businesses as the businesses who have used partially hydrogenated oils had no problem selling their products but due to the ban, they may have to find an alternative of the oil which could result in either a more expensive substitute or a substitute that would change how the food tastes or worst case scenario, both of those cases”.
However:
“In Denmark elimination of industrial trans fatty acids from vegetable oils did not increase consumption of saturated fat because industrial trans fatty acids were mostly replaced with cis-unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, there were no noticeable effects for the consumer: neither increase in the cost nor reduction in availability and quality of foods”. [Stender S., Dyerberg J. The influence of trans fatty acids on health. Fourth edition 2003 (from Danish Nutrition Council; publ. no. 34)]
http://www.tuscany-diet.net/lipids/trans-fatty-acids/full-article/