Health is wealth. This statement rings particularly true for me, and many others in South Africa where 33 people die every single day from a heart attack. The average South African consumes takeaways two or more times a week, often unaware of the harmful oils used in preparing these meals.

Fast food outlets frequently use the cheapest oil available to fry their food. These oils raise LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and put consumers at major risk for heart attacks. Currently, 1 in every 4 South African adults have high cholesterol, most likely due to their diets consisting of takeaways fried in these unhealthy oils.

We can't stop People from eating fast food. People won't stop, that's a fact because we have busy lives and it's convenient and delicious. We can however make a small difference by making it a little healthier but still tasty. 
People should still try to limit their takeaway intake as most meals are high in sodium which can cause liver and kidney problems but one small change can make a huge difference in the health of South Africans. 

The Heart and Stroke Foundation has approved certain types of oil that are healthier alternatives. Oils high in healthy cholesterol. However, there is no legislation enforcing fast food places to use these approved oils.

We need our government to step up and protect its citizens by enforcing all fast-food places in South Africa to use only Heart and Stroke Foundation-approved oil for frying foods. This simple change could drastically reduce the number of heart attacks caused by high LDL cholesterol levels from unhealthy takeaway meals. Not just heart attacks but high cholesterol can cause diabetes, hyperthyroidism, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, kidney damage etc! Enforcing this law can majorly benefit  our health care system. Certain parts of America and countries all over the world has already introduced a law which prohibits both fast food outlets and food manufacturer's from using trans fat in food consumed by humans. Oil approved by the heart and stroke foundation have no trans fat! 

Please join us as we call on our government officials to make this life-saving change mandatory across all fast-food outlets nationwide. Sign this petition today!