近日有檢測發現，包括喜茶、奈雪的茶、霸王茶姬等多家知名奶茶品牌，其部分飲品被驗出含有「反式脂肪酸」，而且含量並不低，其中喜茶某款產品甚至達到每100克含0.113克的水平。這樣的消息一出，立刻讓不少習慣「一杯奶茶解憂愁」的消費者感到不安。

要了解為何大家如此緊張，首先必須說明什麼是反式脂肪酸。反式脂肪酸多存在於部分氫化植物油、精煉過程產生的油脂，以及一些加工食品當中。雖然它能延長食品保存期限、增添口感與香氣，但對人體卻幾乎沒有好處。長期攝入反式脂肪酸，會大幅提高低密度膽固醇（俗稱壞膽固醇），降低高密度膽固醇（俗稱好膽固醇），這種改變會顯著增加心血管疾病的風險，例如動脈硬化、冠心病，甚至引發中風。此外，有研究指出，反式脂肪酸還可能影響青少年的生長發育，甚至與肥胖、糖尿病有一定關聯。

這次事件的敏感之處在於，雖然涉事品牌紛紛回應，強調其產品「符合國家標準」，並未超標，但問題在於「符合標準」並不等於「對健康無害」。標準只是最低的門檻，而對於長期大量飲用奶茶的人來說，即便每一杯中的含量未超標，日積月累依然會讓身體承受額外的負擔。換句話說，合法合規不等於絕對健康，消費者仍需提高警覺。

奶茶作為一種現代都市的流行飲品，本來就是高糖、高熱量、高脂肪的代表，若再加上反式脂肪酸，對心臟與血管的壓力就更不容忽視。新聞曝光後，有營養專家提醒大眾，奶茶並非完全不能喝，但絕不能因為一時的口感與快樂，就忽視長遠的健康風險。更合理的做法，是控制飲用頻率與份量，挑選成分更單純、油脂含量更低的飲品，或者嘗試低糖少奶精的版本。

其實，反式脂肪酸早已被國際衛生領域視為「隱形殺手」。世界衛生組織（WHO）早在2018年就提出「REPLACE」行動計畫，目標是在2023年前全面消除工業生產的反式脂肪酸，因為它被認為每年導致全球超過50萬人死於心血管疾病。WHO的建議是：成年人每天攝取的反式脂肪酸不應超過總能量的1%，換算下來，一個普通成年人每天的攝入量應控制在2克以下。

在實際政策上，歐美多數國家已經走在前列。丹麥是世界上第一個立法禁止工業反式脂肪酸的國家，早在2003年便嚴格規範食品中的含量，不得超過總脂肪的2%。美國食品藥品監督管理局（FDA）則在2015年宣布，人工反式脂肪酸不再「被普遍認為是安全的」，並在2018年起全面禁用，要求食品製造商停止使用氫化植物油。歐盟也在2021年開始全面限制反式脂肪酸的使用，規定其含量不得超過每100克油脂中的2克。

相比之下，亞洲地區對反式脂肪酸的管制仍較為寬鬆，許多產品雖然符合當地標準，但與歐美「零容忍」的態度仍有落差。這也是為什麼像喜茶、奈雪的茶這樣的品牌，即便聲稱「達標」，仍會引起輿論爭議。消費者看到的，已不只是「合不合法」，而是「安不安全、健不健康」。國際趨勢是逐步消除反式脂肪酸，而中國和台灣市場也遲早會面臨同樣的壓力。對消費者而言，最重要的是養成健康的消費習慣，不要過分依賴奶茶、糕點或高油炸食品，因為再嚴格的法律和標準，也不可能替每個人的飲食選擇負責。

總體而言，這起「反式脂肪酸風波」提醒我們，不要過於依賴食品廠商的宣傳或所謂的「達標」來安心，而應該培養自己的健康意識，學會閱讀配料表與營養標示，清楚自己每天到底攝入什麼。奶茶雖然好喝，卻不應該成為日常生活中不可或缺的習慣。與其依賴它來慰藉心情，不如選擇更健康的方式，比如喝茶、喝水或運動來替代。

Recently, tests have revealed that several well-known milk tea brands, including Heytea, Nayuki, and Bawang Chaji, contain trans fatty acids in some of their beverages, with levels that are not negligible. In particular, one Heytea product was found to contain as much as 0.113g of trans fats per 100g. News of this has immediately caused concern among consumers who are accustomed to using a cup of milk tea as a small daily indulgence.

To understand why this has sparked such anxiety, it’s important to clarify what trans fatty acids are. They are commonly found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, oils produced during refining processes, and certain processed foods. While trans fats can extend shelf life and enhance taste and aroma, they offer almost no benefit to the human body. Long-term intake significantly increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL, “bad cholesterol”) and decreases high-density lipoprotein (HDL, “good cholesterol”), a combination that substantially raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and even stroke. Some studies also suggest that trans fats may affect the growth and development of adolescents and are associated with obesity and diabetes.

The sensitivity of this incident lies in the fact that, although the brands involved have responded by emphasizing that their products “meet national standards” and do not exceed legal limits, meeting standards does not equate to being completely safe or healthy. Standards set only the minimum threshold, and for those who consume milk tea regularly, even small amounts of trans fats can accumulate over time, placing additional stress on the body. In other words, legal compliance does not automatically mean it is harmless, and consumers need to remain vigilant.

Milk tea, as a modern urban beverage, is already high in sugar, calories, and fat. The presence of trans fats further increases stress on the heart and blood vessels. Following the news, nutrition experts have reminded the public that milk tea is not forbidden, but enjoyment should not come at the expense of long-term health. A more reasonable approach is to control consumption frequency and portion size, choose beverages with simpler ingredients and lower fat content, or opt for low-sugar, low-creamer versions.

Internationally, trans fatty acids have long been recognized as a “silent killer” in public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the “REPLACE” initiative in 2018, aiming to completely eliminate industrially produced trans fats by 2023, as they are estimated to cause over 500,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases globally each year. WHO recommends that adults consume no more than 1% of total energy intake from trans fats, which equates to roughly 2 grams per day for an average adult.

In terms of policy, many Western countries have led the way. Denmark was the first country to legislate against industrial trans fats, strictly limiting them to no more than 2% of total fats in foods as early as 2003. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared in 2015 that artificial trans fats were no longer “generally recognized as safe” and banned their use entirely in 2018, requiring manufacturers to stop using hydrogenated oils. The European Union also imposed strict limits starting in 2021, restricting trans fats to a maximum of 2 grams per 100 grams of fat.

By contrast, regulations in many parts of Asia remain relatively lenient. Many products may comply with local standards but still differ significantly from the “zero-tolerance” policies seen in Europe and the U.S. This is why brands like Heytea and Nayuki, even when claiming compliance, still spark public concern. Consumers are no longer simply asking if a product is legal—they want to know if it is truly safe and healthy.

The international trend is toward gradually eliminating trans fats, and the markets in China and Taiwan are likely to face similar pressures in the near future. For consumers, the key is to develop healthy consumption habits, avoiding overreliance on milk tea, pastries, or fried foods, because even the strictest laws and standards cannot make up for personal dietary choices.

Overall, this “trans fat controversy” serves as a reminder not to rely solely on food manufacturers’ marketing or claims of “compliance” for reassurance. Consumers should cultivate awareness of their health, learn to read ingredient lists and nutrition labels, and clearly understand what they are consuming daily. While milk tea may be delicious, it should not become an indispensable daily habit. Rather than relying on it for comfort, it is healthier to choose alternatives such as plain tea, water, or exercise.