The World Health Organization has urged people across the world to cut down on their consumption of artery-clogging fatty foods.

According to a new report by WHO, the initiative is a bid to prevent some of the 17 million deaths caused every year by cardiovascular diseases, which have been linked to food containing saturated fats and trans-fats.

Saturated fats are commonly found in butter, salmon, egg yolks and cow’s milk.

The UN health agency wants trans-fats, which are found in baked and fried foods and cooking oil – to account for just one per cent of daily calorie intake.