Welcome to another installment of "Ask the Tokyo Dietitian,” where you can get expert insights on food and nutrition, tailored specifically for life in Japan. Whether you're looking for tips on how to balance traditional Japanese foods with modern dietary needs, navigating local food labels or you want to learn more about the latest in nutrition science, our registered dietitian is here to help. Each month, we'll tackle common questions, dispel myths and provide practical advice to support your health and wellness journey.
Have a question? Ask away by emailing us at tokyodietitian@japantoday.com and your question may be featured in an upcoming article. Question: I’ve heard that trans fats are still allowed in foods here.
Is this true and if so, how can I avoid them? Tokyo Dietitian: While Japan leads the world in many health-related metrics, such as long lifespans and low obesity rates, it’s certainly interesting that trans fats can still be used in foods here. Despite the 2018 call to action from the World Health Organization to eliminate all trans fats from the global food supply by 2023, Japan has been slow to adopt this and has not passed any regulation prohibiting the use of trans fats. Some companies have voluntarily removed trans fats from products like snack foods or margarine.
Yet, if you look in the aisles of a Japanese grocery store, you’ll likely find foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils. These types of oils are the most common form of artificial.
