About tfX, activities

Andrew Lansley argues against trans fat ban - the Tory / Lib-Dem government signals no intention to ban trans fats - but the door is still open for change. Article for the tfX website, 2 July 2010.
Britain goes trans-free! - well, almost. This report follows an FSA meeting of 29/10/08 in which most of the UK food industry reported the exclusion of trans fats from their products. Which is great. However risks remain in the unpackaged food sectors, since there is still no legal ban - and ignorant or unscrupulous purveyors are still free to poison us.
Alzheimer′s - the case for prevention article by tfX founder Oliver Tickell published in The Ecologist magazine, September 2007. We publish this uncut version complete with scientific references on the tfX website to dispel possible misunderstandings and to assist researchers wishing to follow look up the original papers. See here for The Ecologist's version.
Alzheimer's - the case for prevention - are we losing our minds? And could something as simple and inexpensive as diet and lifestyle prevent it from happening? Yes, says tfX founder Oliver Tickell. One of the many measures is to cut trans fats out of the diet. Article published in The Ecologist magazine, September 2007.
Euro-MPs declare war on trans fats - with a tfX-supported Declaration calling on the Commission to require trans fat labelling, drop its legal action against Denmark's ban, and introduce its own measures to restrict trans fats in Europe's food supply.
Petition to the Prime Minister - "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to place an upper limit on trans fats both in food and in oils and fats used in the preparation of food."
BMJ editorial on trans fats - tfX responds. This is in response to the excellent article in the BMJ of 29 July 2006, "Trans fatty acids and coronary heart disease", in which Robert Clarke and Sarah Lewington of Oxford University call for the labelling of trans fat on product packaging. tfX argues that this alone is not enough - legal limits are also needed.
Eschew the fat - article on the Government's mysterious failure to regulate trans fats in our food, by by tfX's Oliver Tickell. Published on the Guardian's "Comment is Free" website, 5 July 2006.
A tfX Yahoo group was set up on 3 July 2006. Please join up and you will be included in mailings about tfX's work, campaigns and news on trans fats and hydrogenated oil. You will also be able to post your own messages, questions etc. Note that this is a moderated group to limit the possibility of any abuse.
Europe must address trans fats, article by Anthony Fletcher published in foodnavigator.com, about the tfX call for a ban on trans fats. See also other related articles on the website.
Donate ! to tfX - the more donations we receive, the more campaigning we will be able to do!
tfX response to FSA consultation on "traffic light" labelling - the proposed use of saturates as the sole indicator of fat quality is inadequate and misleading. Wider indicators of fat quality are needed which recognise the positive health impacts of many dietary oils and fats, and which also highlight the presence of toxic trans fats arising from hydrogenation.
tfX response to Turning the Tables: Transforming School Food. "This report dismisses the need to take action on trans fatty acids. It does so on the basis of inadequate evidence, guesswork, misunderstood COMA recommendations and apparent ignorance as to the seriousness of the impacts of trans fatty acids on health. This decision to dismiss the question of trans fatty acids and allow our children to be poisoned by them until the matter is revisited in 2011 is ill-informed, irresponsible and severely deleterious to the health of our children and especially those in lower socio-economic groups whose consumption of trans fatty acids is likely to be highest."
Campaign for trans-free school meals - help us to get the message over to Government: trans fats are toxic, and they must not be allowed in our childrens' school food.
DfES School Food Consulation - tfX submission of 29 March 2005. We argue that trans fats should be eliminated from school meals, that saturated fats should be constrained, and that both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils, including essential omega-3 and omega-6 oils, should be encouraged. These requirements should be mandatory on all school meal providers.
Write to a food company! - this page contains a sample letter that you can use as is, or adapt as you wish, when writing to food company to persuade them to remove trans fats / hydrogenated oil from their products.
ASA tfX - Co-op adjudication of 9 February 2005. Although the adjudication went against tfX on a legal technicality, the complaint was a great success in that it convinced senior Co-op managers that it was right that they should label trans fats, which they will now begin to do.
tfX complaint to the ASA about the Co-op - tfX claims "success" - the Co-op is to begin labelling trans fat quantities on its own-brand foods, even through the ASA ruling has gone in favour of the Co-op. This follows the tfX complaint of May 28 2004.
Press Release: Co-op to label trans fats - tfX claims 'success'. Dated 8 February 2005.
Vegetarians and trans fats - many vegetarians may be eating above-average volumes of trans fats in processed food products. We believe that the Vegetarian Society should restrict the use of its logo to protect the health of vegetarians.
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Complaint about Brace's "traditional" Welsh cakes - these contain hydrogenated vegetable oil, a non-traditional ingredient. Complaint made to Oxfordshire TSA, 7 October 2004.
Complaint to ASA about the Co-op: additional material - adding weight to the original complaint of 28 May 2004, alleging that the Co-op's general failure to label trans fats falls short of its promise to "tell the whole truth" on its own-brand product packaging. Submitted 6 October 2004,
Complaint about "Healthy Living" garlic bread containing hydrogenated fats, as observed in Co-op and Tesco stores in Oxford. Complaint made to Oxfordshire Trading Standards department, 12 August 2004.
Face the fats - article highlighting the dangers of trans fats by tfX founder Oliver Tickell. Daily Express Health Section, 27 July 2004.