Scientist helps Nunavik say no to trans fats

Northern Quebec's Nunavik region could soon be one of the first in Canada to ban trans fats, with the help of a Quebec researcher who says they cause health problems that are becoming a major concern in the North.

Trans fats, which are found in many processed foods and snacks available on store shelves, are being increasingly consumed amongsome Inuit and First Nations populations, said Dr. Eric Dewailly, a Laval University professor and research director with the Institute of Public Health in Quebec City.

To combat the trend, Dewailly is working with Makivik Corp., the organization that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, "to implement, as soon as possible, a complete ban of trans fat in Nunavik," he told CBC News on Wednesday.

Dewailly, who was attending the federal Northern Contaminants Program workshop in Lake Louise, Alta., said he and Makivik are pitching the idea to grocery store companies such as Northern. Since many food manufacturers are now making products free of trans fats, he said a ban should not come at extra cost to customers.

"We are just finishing the work to help them to implement that," he said. "There is goodwill in Makivik and at the health board to ban that, because it's really a poison unnecessary."

Inuit in Greenland have low levels of trans fats in their blood, Dewailly said, mainly due to tight controls put in place by Denmark. He said Northern Canada cannot wait for a nationwide ban, since trans fats are showing up in the blood of some Inuit and First Nations populations.

Eric Loring, a senior environmental health researcher with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said the national Inuit organization supports a similar move across northern Canada. Hecalled Dewailly's work an example of research serving the communities.

"We're really blessed to [have] people like Dr. Dewailly and other researchers that he works with to sort of be one of our allies," Loring said.