25.06.2026
The Supporting Healthy Oils & Fats to Replace Trans Fats (SHIFT) Consortium successfully organized the Northern Regional Meeting on “Roadmap for Replacing Trans-Fat with Healthy Edible Oils in India” at the Advanced Eye Centre Auditorium, PGIMER, Chandigarh. The meeting brought together policymakers, public health experts, researchers, food safety regulators, agricultural scientists, and industry representatives to develop a collaborative roadmap for promoting healthier edible oils and eliminating industrially produced trans fats across Northern India.
This epidemiological transition is clearly reflected in the changing patterns of morbidity and mortality observed globally and in India. According to the WHO India NCD Profile (2018), NCDs contribute to nearly 67% of all deaths in the country. Among these, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause, accounting for 27% of total mortality, followed by chronic respiratory diseases (11%), cancers (9%), diabetes (3%), and other NCDs (13%). This growing burden is largely associated with modifiable behavioural risk factors, especially unhealthy dietary practices, and insufficient physical activity. In unhealthy dietary practices, Industrially produced trans fats remain a major public health concern because of their well-established association with cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The global movement toward trans-fat elimination has been spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) through its REPLACE action package, which supports countries in eliminating industrially produced trans fats from the food supply as a cost-effective strategy for preventing cardiovascular diseases and improving population health. WHO recommends limiting trans-fat intake to less than 1% of total daily energy intake, equivalent to less than 2 grams per day for a 2,000-calorie diet.
The urgency of this mission is underscored by scientific evidence demonstrating that high trans-fat intake is associated with a 34% increase in all-cause mortality and a 28% increase in deaths due to coronary heart disease. Globally, trans-fat consumption is estimated to contribute to more than 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease annually, while in India it is associated with an estimated 77,000 cardiovascular disease-related deaths each year. These figures reinforce the importance of eliminating trans fats from the food supply and promoting healthier edible oil alternatives as a key strategy for reducing the burden of NCDs.
As a premier academic and research institution, PGIMER has played a pivotal role in advancing the national agenda on replacing trans fats with healthier edible oils. The institute undertook a comprehensive national policy review and scoping exercise to assess the existing landscape of trans-fat elimination and healthier edible oil promotion in India. Based on this work, a comprehensive report was released during the National Stakeholder Engagement Meeting held on 22 February 2025. Building on the findings and recommendations from Phase I, the SHIFT Consortium was launched with the objectives of consensus building and roadmap development, preparation and dissemination of policy briefs, and stakeholder sensitization through regional consultations and workshops. These initiatives aim to facilitate the adoption of healthier edible oils and strengthen coordinated action toward sustainable trans-fat replacement across the country.
The northern region possesses unique dietary traditions, agricultural strengths, and consumption patterns that must be considered while designing interventions. Accordingly, policies should be evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and developed through consultation with local stakeholders. The regional meeting emphasized that an effective roadmap for Northern India should integrate local dietary practices with strategies that promote healthier food choices and sustainable production systems.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Prof. JS Thakur, Principal Investigator of the Healthy Oil Consortium and Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh. He highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking and multi-sectoral collaboration to improve dietary fat quality and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.
Dr. Avula Laxmaiah, Project Coordinator, presented the scientific evidence on trans-fat-related health risks and outlined the roadmap for trans-fat replacement and the ongoing activities of the SHIFT Consortium.
The technical sessions featured expert presentations by Dr. Sreenivas Reddy, Professor, Department of Cardiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, who highlighted the role of trans fats in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Renuka Aggarwal from Punjab Agricultural University presented evidence on edible oil consumption patterns in Northern India and highlighted that a large proportion of the population consumes branded edible oils. She noted that the dietary omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio is imbalanced across much of the population, which may have implications for long-term health. She also highlighted key initiatives undertaken by Punjab Agricultural University, including intervention trials promoting omega-3-rich diets among pregnant women through the incorporation of flaxseed and other locally available nutrient-rich foods, aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes; Dr. Adarsh Bhala from Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, discussed traditional dietary practices, local food availability, and consumption patterns in Northern India.
Dr. Virender Sardana, Dean, Research and Innovation, Baba Farid Group of Institutions, Bathinda, provided an overview of edible oil production, supply, and availability in the northern region. He emphasized that India is uniquely positioned as one of the few countries capable of producing a diverse range of oilseeds due to its varied agro-climatic conditions. Major oilseed-producing states include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. He noted that palm oil remains the largest edible oil import into India, followed by soybean and sunflower oils, with nearly 53% of the country’s edible oil requirements being met through imports, resulting in significant dependence on global markets. He also highlighted that Punjab is a leading producer of canola-quality mustard, which yields canola oil, regarded among the healthiest cooking oils worldwide due to its favourable fatty acid composition.
Dr. Sanjula Sharma, Biochemist (Oilseeds), Punjab Agricultural University, discussed quality standards and assessment of edible oils in the region. She emphasized that a good edible oil should be safe, stable, and nutritionally balanced, characterized by lower saturated fatty acids (SFA), higher monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and an appropriate omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio. She highlighted ongoing efforts to develop high-oleic oilseed varieties with improved oleic-to-linoleic (O/L) acid ratios to enhance oil quality and stability. She stressed the importance of ensuring the availability of quality seeds of improved varieties, including canola-quality mustard and high-oleic oilseed crops, alongside quality seed production systems, appropriate oil processing technologies, transparent labelling, and consumer awareness to promote healthier edible oil consumption.
Ms. Ravneet Kaur Sidhu, Director, Food and Drugs Lab, Punjab presented on the status of trans-fat testing and associated challenges in the northern region. She highlighted the regulatory measures undertaken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), including the landmark regulation limiting industrially produced trans fats to less than 2% of the total fat or oil content in foods. She emphasized the importance of fatty acid profiling for the accurate identification and quantification of fatty acids, which supports quality assurance, authenticity verification, regulatory compliance, and nutritional evaluation of edible oils and food products. Gas chromatography was highlighted as the most widely used analytical technique for trans-fat determination.She also noted that Punjab became the first state in India to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PGIMER, Chandigarh, in 2022 to support efforts aimed at reducing trans-fat levels to below 2% even before the nationwide implementation of the regulatory standard. Further, she discussed FSSAI’s Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) initiative, which seeks to prevent the repeated use of degraded cooking oil by establishing systems for the collection of used cooking oil (UCO) and its conversion into biodiesel. The initiative contributes to food safety, environmental sustainability, and the reduction of health risks associated with the consumption of repeatedly heated oils.
The inaugural session featured addresses by Prof. JS Thakur; Dr. Rachita Gupta, National Professional Officer (Nutrition), WHO, she highlighted the World Health Organization’s perspectives on regulatory approaches for trans-fat elimination and healthier food environments; Dr. Swati Bhardwaj, Senior Technical Advisor, RTSL India, who discussed the implementation research component of the Healthy Oil Consortium; Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, who showcased nutrition-sensitive crop innovations developed at PAU, including varieties aimed at supporting glycemic control and addressing nutritional deficiencies through improved wheat, vegetables, and fruits; and Prof. Sanjay Jain, Dean (Research), PGIMER, Chandigarh, who highlighted the public health impact of trans fats, their dynamics in the food supply, and practical challenges and strategies for achieving trans-fat elimination at the grassroots level.
The afternoon programme included a panel discussion on the implementation of food safety legislation and RUCO initiatives, featuring Ravneet Kaur Sidhu, Director, Food and Drugs Lab, Punjab; Mr. Prithvi Singh, Joint Commissioner (Food) and Designated Officer (Additional Charge), Haryana; Dr. Vijaya Gautam, Assistant Commissioner (Food Safety), Himachal Pradesh; Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Joint Commissioner, Food Safety, Jammu & Kashmir; Mr. Sukhwinder Singh, Nodal Officer, FSSAI Chandigarh. The panellists shared their experiences and perspectives on strengthening food safety enforcement and advancing RUCO implementation across the region.
A second panel discussion on promoting sustainable agricultural practices and marketing healthier edible oils to support trans-fat elimination efforts featured Dr. Swati Bhardwaj, Senior Technical Advisor, RTSL India; Shri Lakhvir Singh Sandhu, Deputy Director Agriculture (Oilseeds), Punjab, who highlighted the current status of oilseed production and availability in the state, challenges related to procurement, and the role of Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) in encouraging oilseed cultivation; Dr. Ronika Paika, Technical Coordinator, World NCD Federation, who highlighted the role of AYUSH in promoting the use of healthier edible oils and balanced dietary practices for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases; and Mr. Gurdeep Singh from the TRANSFORM Punjab & Chandigarh Project, who presented the project’s key objectives, implementation strategies, and expected deliverables aimed at improving food environments and accelerating trans-fat elimination efforts.which will strengthen the implementation research in Punjab and Chandigarh.
The valedictory session was presided over by Prof. JS Thakur. Dr Alka Rao, Director, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTech), Chandigarh address Food Standards for Edible Fats and Lipids- Challenges of Implementation.The keynote address was delivered by Dr. M. Srinivas, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, New Delhi, who emphasized that the recommendations emerging from the meeting are relevant not only for India but also for countries across the Global South facing similar nutrition and public health challenges. He highlighted the need to balance health with affordability while promoting healthier edible oils and stressed that there is no single “best” oil; rather, dietary diversity, and informed consumer choices are essential. He further emphasized on the need to limit edible oil consumption in alignment with the Honourable Prime Minister’s call to action on reducing the edible oil consumption by 10%. He called for strengthening domestic production of healthy oils, promoting crop diversification, expanding laboratory networks, and fostering partnerships among government, academia, industry, and civil society. Dr. Srinivas also advocated for the adoption of healthier oil practices in government institutions, hospitals, canteens, and schools to support healthier dietary behaviours and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of stakeholders across Northern India to work collectively towards eliminating industrially produced trans fats and promoting healthier edible oils through evidence-based policies, scientific research, regulatory action, sustainable agriculture, and public engagement.