One of Thailand’s leading hotel operators, Centara Hotels & Resort, has announced it has discontinued all use of trans fat in its food and beverage operations, benefiting the health of its guests and cooperating with the nation’s new Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) guidelines. The company supported the new MOPH policy announced last year, and recently completed an audit of its bakery, restaurant and catering operations to assure the elimination of the potentially harmful type of oils that have been common in the food industry worldwide for many years.
Since the implementation of the trans-fat-free initiative three months ago, Centara has served approximately 3-4 million meals of trans-fat free food to over 1.5 million guests.
“We are happy to reassure our guests that pastries at our Zing bakeries, pizza and fries at our COAST beach bistros, and all the other food they enjoy at Centara, are free of trans fat,” says Winfried Hancke, Corporate Director of Operations Food & Beverage, Centara Hotels & Resorts. “Our chefs and F&B managers have been diligent and resourceful to achieve this goal for the health and wellness of our guests and staff.”
Trans fat, from partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils, was introduced by the food industry in the mid-20th century. It helped prolong the shelf life and reduce costs of processed foods. Trans fat was typically used in fried foods, margarine and vegetable shortening, salad dressings, processed snacks and non-dairy creamer.
Recent research showed that trans fat increases the risk of heart disease and strokes by lowering good cholesterol (HDL) and raising bad cholesterol (LDL). Its growing use coincided with increased cardiovascular disease. Health and nutrition advocates praised the MOPH for its initiative to halt the production, import and distribution of industrially-produced trans fats and food products containing them. The Thai Ministry announced the new policy in July of last year along with guidelines for compliance within six months.
