JOIN USThe State government would pressure the Union government to ban the use of transfat in dalda, vanaspati and palm oil, Health Minister Aravind Limbavali told the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a question by Derrick M B Fullinfaw (nominated) to ban the use of transfat for cooking purposes, Limbavali said Karnataka follows the Food Act, a Central legislation, which has no mention of the ban on the use of transfat.
“However, according to the Union Health Minister, the Centre is contemplating a ban and we will also mount pressure for the same,” the minister said. Limbavali admitted that the government was aware of the use of transfat in bakery products and confectionaries.
Earlier, Fullinfaw said that the use of transfat in cooking was posing serious health hazards. He said several countries had banned the use of transfat and Karnataka should set a trend by prohibiting its use.
Joining the issue, Krishna Byregowda (Cong) said use of transfat should be forbidden in the interests of future generations.
U T Khader (Cong) wondered why the State cannot have a separate legislation on the issue, while Fullinfaw suggested the government to create awareness among the people on the harmful effects of transfat.