Cargill earns top ranking for leading removal of trans fats

Cargill Food Scientist Israel Ortega counts helping remove industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) from the global food supply among the most rewarding work of his career.

Israel and his team have helped 75 of Mexico’s leading food and beverage companies reformulate products – such as cakes, cookies, snack foods and coffee creamers - to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) REPLACE initiative standards for limiting ITFA in food.  

“It’s energizing knowing that this work could help make a difference in the health of consumers,” he says.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, Cargill became the first — and so far only known — global supplier whose entire edible oils portfolio meets WHO’s iTFA standards worldwide. 

This milestone helped Cargill earn the number one ranking on the 2025 Oil Supplier Index, developed by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), a global nonprofit that drives market transformation for improved access to nutrition. While this is ATNi’s first ranking for edible oil suppliers, the organization has evaluated major food and beverage companies through its Global Access to Nutrition Index since 2018.

To determine rankings, ATNi assessed the eight largest global suppliers of edible fats and oils, evaluating each on 19 indicators including iTFA reduction strategy and measures, B2B marketing and wider nutrition efforts. Cargill earned the highest overall score, 81.4%, leading across all assessment areas, with the second-highest scoring company achieving just 14.2%.  
 

Ahead of the curve

For Israel, a focus on all things iTFA goes back to 2021, when Cargill committed to ensure its entire global edible oils portfolio could meet the WHO’s recommended best practice: no more than 2 grams of iTFA per 100 grams of fats and oils in foods. This included countries like Mexico, where there was no legislative mandate.

As Cargill’s research and development leader in Mexico, Israel fielded many questions from customers concerned about the costs and manufacturing complexity of reformulating ahead of the country's regulatory requirements.

“We demonstrated that we could not only remove iTFA, but that we could elevate the taste and texture of products to better match the latest consumer trends,” Israel says. 

Chantilly, an industry-leader for bakery, pastry and confectionery products in Mexico, credits Cargill with being a key ally in the challenging reformulation of their popular whipping creams. 

“Cargill provided the expertise and technology needed to solve crucial challenges such as maintaining the taste and texture our consumers and operators expect, while retaining its performance across many culinary uses,” says Miriam Leticia Rodriguez Chigora, R&D leader, Chantilly.

By February 2023, Mexico finalized legislation limiting iTFA in foods.

“At Chantilly, we take pride in having eliminated trans fats before the law came into effect,” Miriam says. “The collaboration between Chantilly and Cargill has yielded positive results for both the company and its consumers. It not only highlights Cargill's ability to provide technical support and innovative solutions, but also its commitment to consumer health and regulatory compliance.”

Bye-bye to 1.5 billion pounds of iTFA-containing products 

Over the past 25 years, Cargill has invested millions in capital upgrades, committed thousands of R&D hours and helped more than 400 customers around the world reformulate products. To date, Cargill has helped remove more than 1.5 billion pounds of iTFA-containing products from the global food chain. 

“Being recognized by ATNi reinforces our responsibility to lead with purpose — delivering safe, sustainable nutrition through the food and ingredient solutions we provide,” says David VandenEinde, Cargill’s vice president for food R&D in North America. “This achievement is the result of decades of innovation, close collaboration with customers like Chantilly and investment in improved edible oil solutions. We will remain fully engaged with food manufacturers and related stakeholders, working together to help pave the way for a healthier and more resilient global food supply.”  

Cargill not only drove change within its own operations but worked as a catalyst for global change. The company has collaborated with governments and health organizations to share expertise and support policy development in markets where iTFA regulations are still emerging.

Still, much work remains.

In its 2024 progress report, the WHO noted that policies limiting iTFA use have been implemented in nearly 53 of the world’s 195 countries — covering about 46% of the world’s population. Cargill remains committed to supporting continued progress worldwide.