The trans-fat levels in Vanaspati were found to be five to 12 times higher than the world’s only standard for trans-fats in oil — set in Denmark —at two per cent of the total oil.

The level ranged from 23.7 per cent in the case of ‘Panghat’ (a Mawana Sugar brand) and 23.31 per cent in the case of ‘Raag’ (an Adani Wilmar Ltd brand). Interestingly, the lowest trans-fat levels were found in the desi ghee of Milk Foods Ltd and in Amul butter — 3.73 per cent.

In terms of vegetable oil, the centre said that there was no oil that could be called best as different researches over the years have come up with varying views. For instance, while sunflower oil, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFA, claims to be excellent for the heart, it is low on omega 3; recent research says that it is omega 3 which prevents ischemic heart diseases. Similarly, canola or rapeseed oil, touted to be as healthy as olive oil, has been rubbished by a large number of studies for being unhealthy for the cardiovascular system and for retarding growth.

The study finds that if all oils are compared against the WHO recommendation, then no single oil in the market could currently claim to be good for one’s health. The research was done on 30 samples of vanaspati, butter, ghee and vegetable oils.

Sunita Narain, Director of the CSE, said that the study exposed the loopholes in Government that allow companies to make products without regulating the quality.

“There is no one watching over what we eat, as a result our food is in the hands of multi-nationals,” she said at the India Habitat Centre where the findings were released on Wednesday.

Chandrabhushan, who is in charge of the project drew attention to the fact that even as the food regulators had accepted trans-fats as a serious health concern, they had delaying setting the safety standard, presumably under pressure from the influential edible oil industry.

“In 2004, the Union Health Ministry’s Oils and Fats Sub-committee, under the Central Committee for Food Standards, began discussions on a standard for trans-fat, but the Central committee is still awaiting more data,” he said.