Calif. Bans Trans Fats From Restaurants

California Becomes First State To Ban Trans Fats From Eateries, Following Several Cities

(CBS/ AP)  California on Friday became the first state to ban trans fats from restaurant food, following several cities and major fast-food chains in erasing the notorious artery-clogger from menus.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation that will ban restaurants and other retail food establishments from using oil, margarine and shortening containing trans fats.

In a statement, Schwarzenegger noted that consuming trans fat is linked to coronary heart disease.

"Today we are taking a strong step toward creating a healthier future for California," he said.

Violations could result in fines of $25 to $1,000. Food items sold in their manufacturers' sealed packaging would be exempt.

New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, Baltimore and Montgomery County, Md., have ordinances banning trans fats, but California is the first state to adopt such a law covering restaurants, said Amy Winterfeld, a health policy analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

California and Oregon already had laws banning trans fats in meals served at schools, she added.

The legislation signed by Schwarzenegger will take effect Jan. 1, 2010, for oil, shortening and margarine used in spreads or for frying. Restaurants could continue using trans fats to deep-fry yeast dough and in cake batter until Jan. 1, 2011.

Trans fats occur naturally in small amounts of meat and dairy products. Most trans fats are created by adding hydrogen to liquid oil turning them into solid fat, like shortening, reports CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes. Transfats are found in everything from microwave popcorn to cookies and potato chips.

Trans fats increase bad cholestrol which contributes to the development of heart disease,stroke, obesity and diabetes, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

"I would say if we could reduce or eliminate trans fats in the American diet, it would go a long way toward reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease," Dr. Russell Berdoff of Beth Israel Medical Center told CBS News.

Stephen Joseph, a Tiburon attorney who was a consultant to New York City in developing its ban, said trans fat is a larger health risk than saturated fat because it reduces so-called good cholesterol.

Trans fats are like cigarettes, with no safe level of consumption, said Jeffrey Luther, a Long Beach doctor who is president of the California Academy of Family Physicians.

He said the California law, "when it finally takes effect, will be a tremendous benefit."

The California Restaurant Association opposed the bill. Spokesman Daniel Conway said the federal Food and Drug Administration rather than individual states should be developing regulations on trans fat use.

He said, however, that the association has no plans to challenge the law, in part because restaurants already are phasing out trans fats to satisfy customers. Several major fast-food chains have announced that they have eliminated trans fats from their menus or intend to so do in the near future.

"We're confident that California restaurants can meet the mandates of the bill," Conway said.

[whiskyrokkr]

What''s next. California is on another planet.

[whiskyrokkr]

What''s next. California is on another planet.

[talkingham]

The edible oils industry has an extremely powerful lobby. In the early 1980''s researcher Mary Enig testified in Congress that trans fats spelled trouble and should be investigated prior to the food industry being allowed to place them in virtually every mass produced cookie and baked good as well as margarines for "heart healthy" diets - the edible oils lobby had her testimony cut from the Congressional record (in liberal George McGovern''s agriculture committee)-- how do you like that for freedom Carly- they were told this stuff was terrible but big food forced it down our throats anyway, doesn''t taste like freedom to me! These same researchers were also threatenedd by the food industry in the form of - "you''ll never get any food industry research funding!" Good old freedomof the all mighty dollar. Enig and others persisted and though it took 25 years they are winning the battle of FREEING our food from industry dictocrats who tell you what you can eat.

Meanwhile, most cardiovascular "specialists" were telling their heart disease patients to keep eating the trans fats that comprised 25-50% of most margarines and were worse than any cholesterol laden meats you could imagine. Carly it was lib George McGovern''s committee who ignored the trans fat problem- does that make you feel better now.

[jimfinster]

How dare any of you tell me what I can eat. How dare any of you...Even our eating rights are being taken away from us. GAWD! How obnoxious of you who agree...

Posted by CarlyLaine


Nice rant. But the fact is Carly, you can still eat all the trans fats you want. There are plenty of products left on the grocery shelf, go stock up!

Many of us prefer not to eat trans fats when we dine out. Since the menu does not come with an ingredient list, this is the best way to make it happen.

[talkingham]

Oh my, my little Carly U dunce, u r breaking my heart. Someone is taking the trans fats out of your food that I bet u didn''t even know they were in there. But I digress. If you want to to fill yourself and your I bet chubby children with trans fats U can still do that. Crisco is still around and if they stop making it u r free to get a hydrogen injector so you can inject rancid veggie oils and make trans fats for your family. In fact, if you just want to speed things up u can just eat straight Crisco I''m sure you''ll like it.

For the last 30 years the media and sold out dietitians have sat by and watched a generation poisoned with this slop-- and did anyone tell me or ask me if I wanted these poisons in virtually every off the shelf "baked" good you could purchase. Thank goodness they won''t be blowing up the hearts of children with this stuff any more in some places where they have common sense. But I hope little Carly keeps eating this stuff because Carly is a big whining baby who deserves it.

[gunfighter51]

jlagat,
I think were smart enough to know that trans fat is not good for us.
Maybe you need the government to tell you, we don''t

[jlagat]

blah, blah, blah
I''m a *********.

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Posted by Gunfighter51 at 05:16 AM : Jul 27, 2008

The state of California: Not giving a s**t what the rest of America thinks since 1850.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Yet even though California is considered on the cutting edge, few states follow there lead."
Posted by Gunfighter51

Perhaps because those who seek a more enlightened climate transmigrate to California, one of the reasons that that state alone is the world''s 12th largest economy.

So if you are a Luddite, or sympathizer, stay in the more backward states if you wish, you don''t need California, as it does not need you.

Thank you California for taking the lead again.

[extremophil]

"Calif. Bans Trans Fats From Restaurants"

Now if they can just ban it from the brains of their citizens......