The study released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had tested 30 available brands in the market, including desi ghee and butter, at its Delhi-based laboratory and arrived at the conclusions after conducting gas chromatography and other sophisticated tests.

"Through the tests, we had sought to find out the fatty acid profile of each brand and the injurious trans fat content in them," Associate Director of CSE, Chandra Bhushan said during a press briefing in Delhi.

According to the study, most brands resort to deceptive labelling of trans fat content in their products and are unable to substantiate health benefits as proclaimed in their advertisements.

Trans fatty acids are touted to increase heart risks as they reduce the content of good cholesterol in the body and increases risk of infertility in women, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

The tests recorded that trans fatty acid content in all vanaspati brands in the country are five to 12 times higher than the prescribed trans fat standard for edible oil set in Denmark at two per cent of the total oil.

Lowest amount of trans fatty acid content were found in desi ghee and Amul butter at 5.3 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively. Mustard oil brands indicated trans fat content within one per cent with good amount of essential fats like Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9 in them.

"The anomaly exist as the government chose to overlook the need to monitor trans fatty acid content in edible oils and thus ignoring the risk we are exposed to through our edible oils," CSE Director Sunita Narain said.

According to the WHO recommendations, the acceptable limit of trans fatty acids in cooking oil is one per cent or below. Ratios for the presence of essential and saturated fats are also mentioned in the recommendations.

Based on its study findings, the CSE, an NGO, on Tuesday sought better labelling regulation on trans fatty acid, stringent trans fatty standards a, research on cooking oil, guidelines on advertising and marketing of edible oils, and mandatory certification of all edible oils imported in the country.

The NGO had also gathered minutes of a meeting between the Central Committee for Food Standards and its sub-committee on oil and fats through an RTI query.

The RTI response revealed that the sub-committee had recommended that trans fatty acid content in edible oils be brought down to the level of five percent by 2009 in a phased manner.

Meanwhile, the government had sought more scientific data from the sub-committee and is awaiting the results.

"If you consider what the Union Health ministry has issued in the name of labelling nutrition facts, you will know how our food is at risk. It literally allows companies to get away with anything – as long as it is on the label. This is just not acceptable," Narain said.