California Bars Restaurant Use of Trans Fats

Following in the footsteps of New York City, California became the first state to ban trans fats in restaurants when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Friday to phase out their use. Under the new law, trans fats, long linked to health problems, must be excised from restaurant products beginning in 2010, and from all retail baked goods by 2011. Packaged foods will be exempt.

Under the new law, restaurants, bakeries, delicatessens, cafeterias and other businesses classified as “food facilities” will, in the preparation of any foods, have to discontinue use of oils, margarine and shortening containing trans fats. Those purveyors will have to keep the labels on their cooking products so that the products can be inspected for trans fat, a process that will become part of the duties of local health inspectors.

Steve - a tip of the cap to California. As our nation's trendsetter when it come to health issues, they have stepped up once again. What public health educators must address are the replacements for trans-fats, some of which are not pretty, Read our blog entry, Trans-Fat Alternatives: Are they Really Healthier?