[JURIST] The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [official website] announced Tuesday that food manufacturers will be given three years to remove all partially hydrogenated oils [press release] (PHOs), the main ingredient in artificial trans fat, saying they are no longer “generally recognized as safe.” After June 18, 2018 no PHOs can be added to human food unless specifically approved by the FDA. The administration explained this decision followed extensive scientific research and consideration of over 6000 comments received since 2013 and the agency believes it will lead to reduced coronary disease and fewer fatal heart attacks. The FDA estimated [order, PDF] that costs of this action over the next 20 years would be $6 billion, including food packaging and relabeling, finding substitute ingredients and restaurant changes. However, the expected health benefits are valued at over $130 billion over the same 20 years.

The FDA is responsible for the nation’s food safety as well as drugs and medical devices and products. Last month the agency released [JURIST report] a set of proposed guidelines outlining a plan to end the national lifetime ban on blood donations from homosexual individuals. Last February, the FDA published a letter declining [JURIST report] to define “natural” in the context of food labeling in response to three cases involving allegations of false advertising of food products. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] ruled in July 2013 that the FDA policy allowing the importation of a drug used in the execution of state prisoners was illegal [JURIST report].