Trans fatty acid content of foods and intake levels in France

As a preliminary for recommended trans fatty acid (TFA) consumption levels as regards health, it was essential to estimate the TFA intake level. Recent results of TFA content of foods were collected, and the total TFA, 18:1 TFA, 18:2 TFA and total conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) compositions were recorded for around 900 food items. These results were combined with the latest consumption data in France in order to update the TFA intake level in France. Average daily total TFA intake was about 3.0 and 3.4 g/ day in boys and men, and about 2.7 and 2.8 g/day in girls and women, respectively. The same tendency was observed for TFA 18:1 intake (boys 2.1 g/day, men 2.4 g/day, girls 1.9 g/day, women 2.0 g/day) and for TFA 18:2 (boys 0.2 g/day, men 0.24 g/day, girls 0.18 g/day, women 0.18 g/day). For CLA, the mean daily intake was higher in males than in females for both adults (0.21 g/day vs. 0.18 g/day) and children (0.18 g/ day vs. 0.17 g/day). Foods of animal origin (dairy products and meat from ruminants) were the main contributors of total TFA, accounting for 60% of the identified TFA. Dairy products were the main contributors of total CLA, accounting for 70% of the identified CLA. In other words, manufactured pastries, biscuits, ready meals and chocolate bars accounted for 40% of total TFA and 30% of CLA.