Study on Awareness of Consumers about Transfats in Chandigarh

Abstract

Background: Transfats also infamous as ugly fat is an unsaturated fat which is formed in industries by
hydrogenation of monosaturated fat by thermal processing etc in order to make cheaper plant fat look like animal
fat .Though we also have natural transfats which are formed by biotransformation in rumen of animal, they are not
so dangerous for our health. Transfats is stated to increase level of LDL and decrease level of HDL thereby causing
increase risk of cardiovascular diseases; it is also linked to obesity, dementia in many studies and is emerging as
one of the major challenge to public health in 21st century. Various organizations like FSSAI has given guidelines
on transfats, WHO has committed to remove industrially produced transfats by 2023.
Objective: we conducted the study to understand consumer awareness about transfats.
Methods: Study was conducted 15 different grocery shops, questions were asked via interview, schedules .Total
N=362. Data was analyzed by comparing on basis of gender, educational level.
Results: 60.8% of participants said they look for food label in packaged food , 74.3% were found aware about
harmful effects of transfats , 30.4% said they are aware about fssai limit for transfats, Only 63.3% graduate & above
, 33.3% above matriculation and 13.3 % below matriculation consumers said they look for food label.
Conclusion: The study found out that many educated people also lack awareness about transfers and a very few
percentage of people were found aware about fssai limit for transfats.