New York City's Health Department on Tuesday proposed a near ban on the use of artificial trans fat at restaurants, likening its health danger to that of lead paint.
The proposal would limit the use of the artery-clogging fat, which is often used in fast foods, to 0.5 grams per serving. The proposal comes after a year-long city campaign to educate restaurants on the effects of such fats and encourage them to stop their use.
The city said the voluntary campaign failed and while some of New York's more than 20,000 restaurants reduced or stopped using artificial trans fat, overall use did not decline at all.
"Trans fat causes heart disease. Like lead in paint, artificial trans fat in food is invisible and dangerous, and it can be replaced," New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said in a statement.
The proposal would give restaurants six months to switch to oils, margarine and shortening with less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving.
After 18 months, all other food items would need to contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. Packaged food items still in the manufacturer's original packaging when served would be exempt.
The department would also require that more restaurants print calorie information on menus.
Bonnie - well, now...the idea does not not seem as ludicrous as Mayor Daley thinks! Now we have seen by New York's example that trying to get restaurants to voluntarily remove the trans fats from its menus is a failure. Hopefully we can trump New York and implement Alderman Burke's plan (while watered down, it is still something) before they implement their own. This will show at least that the fattest city in America is trying to do something for its citizens.
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