The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday proposed a rule change that would eliminate trans fat from all processed foods in a move the agency said would prevent heart attacks and other heart disease.

“While consumption of potentially harmful artificial trans fat has declined over the last two decades in the United States, current intake remains a significant public health concern,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg.

The agency has issued a preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe.” That assessment is based on a review of scientific evidence and expert scientific testimony, the agency said.

If the change is adopted, partially hydrogenated oils would be considered “food additives” and could not be used unless authorized by regulation, virtually eliminating their use in foods.


A brief history of artificial trans fats

Food manufacturers would have to prove that trans fat is safe to eat. The Institute of Medicine, an independent agency, has concluded that trans fat provides no known health benefit and that there is no safe level of artificial trans fat.

The proposal now has a 60-day comment period to collect more data and give food manufacturers an opportunity to estimate how much time they would need to retool their products.

Already, companies have marketed many processed foods -- such as microwave popcorn, frozen pizza and coffee creamers -- that contain less trans fat. Public consumption of trans fat has also fallen since nutrition labels in 2006 began listing the amount of trans fat in foods.


The FDA said trans fat intake has dropped to 1 gram per day in 2012, down from 4.6 grams per day in 2006.

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