TRANSFORM Project Workshop on TransFat Elimination Held at PGIMER

Chandigarh, September 8:- The Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Government of Punjab, Chandigarh Administration and Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), organised an implementation strategy workshop of the TRANSFORM project on trans-fat elimination in Punjab and Chandigarh at the Advanced Eye Centre Auditorium, PGIMER.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of death globally, with a large share of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, including India. According to the Chandigarh NCD Registry, acute cardiac events accounted for 27.7% of all registered NCD cases among Chandigarh residents between July 2018 and December 2021. Consumption of industrially produced trans-fat is one of the major modifiable risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease.
The TRANSFORM project aims to strengthen state-level implementation of trans-fat elimination through regulatory capacity building, laboratory strengthening, compliance assessment, surveillance, reporting and promotion of healthier oils. The project follows the CLEARS framework, which focuses on capacity building, laboratory systems, enforcement of trans-fat policies, assessment and reporting of compliance, and support for healthier oils.
The workshop brought together representatives from food safety authorities, government departments, laboratories, academia, research institutions and development partners. The technical sessions focused on experiences from trans-fat elimination initiatives in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, as well as the current status and challenges of trans-fat testing in Punjab and Chandigarh. Group discussions were held on developing a laboratory strategy for data collection and trans-fat testing.
PGIMER is also implementing the SHIFT Consortium — Supporting Healthy Oils & Fats to Replace Trans Fats — under the leadership of Prof. J.S. Thakur. The consortium has entered its third phase, SHIFT Translate, which focuses on translating evidence and consensus into implementation, policy and practice. This workshop also served as a pre-consultation meeting under SHIFT, with the deliberations expected to contribute to a national consultation meeting planned later this year.
A panel discussion examined the role of trans-fats in cardiovascular disease and strategies for their prevention, reduction and elimination from the food supply.
Senior officials invited to address the inaugural session included Kumar Rahul, IAS, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab; Mandeep Singh Brar, IAS, Home Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Food Safety, Chandigarh; Kanwalpreet Brar, IAS, Commissioner, Food Safety, Punjab; Prof. Sanjeev Handa, Dean (Research), PGIMER; Rajit Punhani, CEO, FSSAI; and Dr. Swati Bhardwaj, Senior Technical Advisor, RTSL India.
Prof. J.S. Thakur, Principal Investigator of the TRANSFORM project and SHIFT Consortium, said that the initiative aims to strengthen implementation research and support the transition towards healthier oils and fats in Punjab and Chandigarh.