SAFA

SAFA are present in various amounts in all oils and fats. They are present in larger amounts in animal fats and in some tropical oils such as coconut oil or palm oil or in hydrogenated oil. EFSA recommends a SAFA intake as low as possible within the context of a nutritionally adequate diet (EFSA, 2010).

Blending tropical oils with vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA) helps to improve the nutrition profile of the final food product. What matters is the overall fatty acid composition of the diet and not the composition of each ingredient/food of the diet.

TFA

Consumption of diets high in TFA increase LDL cholesterol, decrease HDL cholesterol and hence increase LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio, which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

TFA can be found in animal fat (ruminant TFA) or in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (non-ruminant TFA). 

EFSA recommends a TFA intake as low as possible within the context of a nutritionally adequate diet (EFSA, 2010). There is no reason to believe that TFA from animal origin have a different effect on human health than TFA from vegetable origin (EFSA, 2004).

Non-ruminant TFA are regulated at EU level. This means that food products can only be placed on the market if they do not contain an amount above a certain threshold of TFA. For more information on the EU legislation, see here 

For unsaturates

As recognised by EFSA:

Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease.(EU Health claim, Regulation 1226/2014).

A claim that a food is high in unsaturated fat, and any claim likely to have the same meaning for the consumer can only be made where at least 70% of the fatty acids present in the product derive from unsaturated fat under the condition that unsaturated fat provides more than 20% of energy of the product (Regulation 1924/2006).

For MUFA

As recognised by EFSA:

1. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease (EU Health claim, Regulation 1226/2014).
   The claim may be used only for food which is high in unsaturated fatty acids, as referred to in the claim HIGH UNSATURATED FAT as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. The claim may only be used on fats and oils (Regulation 1924/2006). 

2. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels [MUFA and PUFA are unsaturated fats].
   The claim may be used only for food which is high in unsaturated fatty acids, as referred to in the claim HIGH UNSATURATED FAT as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. (Regulation 1924/2006).

3. Replacing saturated fats in the diet with unsaturated fats contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels. Oleic acid is an unsaturated fat.
   The claim may be used only for food which is high in unsaturated fatty acids, as referred to in the claim HIGH UNSATURATED FAT as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

For PUFA

As recognised by EFSA:

1. Essential fatty acids are needed for normal growth and development of children (EU Health claim, Regulation 983/2009 amended by Regulation 376/2010).
   Information to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 2 g of α-linolenic acid (ALA) and a daily intake of 10 g of linoleic acid (LA). (Regulation 1924/2006).

2. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease (EU Health claim, Regulation 1226/2014).
   The claim may be used only for food which is high in unsaturated fatty acids, as referred to in the claim HIGH UNSATURATED FAT as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. The claim may only be used on fats and oils (Regulation 1924/2006).

3. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels [MUFA and PUFA are unsaturated fats].
   The claim may be used only for food which is high in unsaturated fatty acids, as referred to in the claim HIGH UNSATURATED FAT as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. (Regulation 1924/2006).

4. Omega 3 or ALA contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels (EU Health claim, Regulation 432/2012).
   The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of ALA as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 2 g of ALA.

5. Linoleic acid contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels.
   The claim may be used only for a food which provides at least 1,5 g of linoleic acid (LA) per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 10 g of LA.

For saturates

As recognised by EFSA:

Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. (EU Health claim, Regulation 1226/2014).

The claim may be used only for food which is high in unsaturated fatty acids, as referred to in the claim HIGH UNSATURATED FAT as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. The claim may only be used on fats and oils (Regulation 1924/2006).