Trans fat intakes in Canada before partially hydrogenated oils were removed
What it found
In a national survey of people in Canada, average trans fat intake was 0.57% of daily energy, below the 1% target.
Most trans fat came from natural sources like dairy and meat, not from partially hydrogenated oils.
What they found
Studies in people
Average intake
The average person in Canada got 1.2 grams of trans fat per day, which was 0.57% of their daily energy. This was below the 1% target.
Natural vs industrial
Foods with only natural trans fat provided more than half of total trans fat intake. Foods with only industrial trans fat provided about one third.
Young children
Children aged 1 to 3 were the only group where fewer than 90% met the target. In this group, 86% were below 1% of energy, and natural sources provided more than two thirds of their trans fat.
Income and race groups
All income and racial groups had average intakes below 1% of energy. The target of 90% below 1% was met in all these groups except children aged 1 to 3.
Main food sources
Dairy foods like milk, yoghurt, butter and cheese provided one third of total trans fat. Meats provided 14.6%, with beef alone contributing 8.8%. Baked goods, snacks and breads together provided about one third.
Industrial trans fat sources
Baked goods were the largest source of industrial trans fat at 29.6%, followed by snack foods at 26.3%, breads at 14.9%, and fats and oils at 14.3%.
What the authors conclude
“The results of this study indicate that Canada had already met its target of having total TFA intakes below 1%En in ≥ 90% of the population in 2015, prior to the introduction of the prohibition on PHO.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that Canada had already met its target of having total trans fat intakes below 1% of energy in at least 90% of the population in 2015, before partially hydrogenated oils were removed from foods.
- They note that this was true in all age and sex groups except children aged 1 to 3 years, and in all income and racial subgroups examined.
- They say that future research is needed to determine whether removing partially hydrogenated oils will lead to further reductions in total trans fat intake.
How it was done
Canada aimed for at least 90% of people to eat less than 1% of daily energy as trans fat, following World Health Organization advice. The authors wanted to measure trans fat intakes before partially hydrogenated oils were removed from foods in 2018.
They used dietary recall data from 19,670 people aged 1 and older in the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey Nutrition. They estimated usual intakes of total trans fat, industrial trans fat, and natural trans fat, and looked at which foods contributed most.
What it can’t tell you
- The survey asked people to recall what they ate, so the amounts may be misreported.
- The survey did not include people living in Canada's northern territories, so it cannot show trans fat intakes there.
- The study measured intakes, not health outcomes, so it cannot show what effect these intakes had on health.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declarations. Conflict of interest: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
The paper
- Title
- Dietary intakes of trans fatty acids before the prohibition of partially hydrogenated oils in Canada
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Demonty I, Wang KC, Rondeau I, et al (2024). Dietary intakes of trans fatty acids before the prohibition of partially hydrogenated oils in Canada. European journal of nutrition. doi:10.1007/s00394-024-03569-7Free full textPubMed 39738668DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error