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2019 HOTREC ANNUAL REPORT
A key partner for the EU to reduce un-healthy
industrial trans fats in food
The well-being of customers is at the heart of the 2 million hospitality businesses in Europe. With this goal
in mind, the sector always takes its responsibilities when public health is at stake, as illustrated by HOTREC’s
position in favour of responsible and pragmatic European legislation to tackle the issue of trans fat in food.
Preserving Europe’s gastronomic diversity and public health
Trans fats are a particular type of fats that can either be produced industrially or be naturally present in the fat of
ruminants. A high consumption of foods rich in trans fats (TFAs) significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular
diseases, which is a prime source of premature death in Europe.
To tackle this issue, HOTREC supported the European Commission proposal to legislate on industrial TFAs only
and to leave aside naturally occurring TFAs in food. Natural TFAs are present in the traditional gastronomy of most
Europeans through meats, cheeses and other dairy products which form the European gastronomic heritage.
As they are found in much lower quantities than their industrial equivalent in highly-processed food, HOTREC
supported a pragmatic approach which will protect public health and preserve Europe’s gastronomic heritage.
HOTREC supported the establishment of a legal limit to protect consumers’ health
As industrial TFAs are not produced by restaurants, but may be part of ingredients supplied to them, HOTREC
also promoted successfully towards the EU institutions the adoption of a legislation which would set a binding
legal limit of industrial TFAs allowed in food (i.e. maximum 2% of the total fat content) supplied to consumers and
to hospitality businesses. This solution allows to preserve hospitality businesses from sampling obligations on
the supplies they receive, and to guarantee to clients that the dishes they serve are healthy and freed from most
industrial TFAs.
As the new EU legislation on trans fats was adopted on 24 April 2019, HOTREC’s support to pragmatic and
ambitious solutions will help to protect public health through a drastic reduction in the content of un-healthy trans
fats in food and dishes consumed by European citizens, without unnecessarily burdening the restaurant sector
and its numerous micro-enterprises. A win-win solution for all parties concerned.
HOTREC successfully promoted a legislation
which will preserve Europe’s gastronomic
diversity, protect public health and avoid
red tape