SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 25, 2008
Calif. Bans Trans Fats From Restaurants
California Becomes First State To Ban Trans Fats From Eateries, Following Several Cities
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Play CBS Video Video Calif. Bans Trans Fats California will become the first state in the nation to ban trans fats in all eateries, as studies show that this type of fat contributes to bad cholesterol levels. Sandra Hughes reports.
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In a June 4, 2008 photo, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs an executive order on drought relief. The governor approved legislation banning trans fats from restauraunts statewide on July 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
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Quiz Are You Food Savvy? Have you consumed myths about diet and nutrition? Take these quizzes to find out.
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Interactive HealthWatch Explore health issues including AIDS, cancer and antibiotics.
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.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- What''s next. California is on another planet.
- Reply to this comment
- What''s next. California is on another planet.
- Reply to this comment
- 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. - Reply to this comment
- 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. - Reply to this comment
- 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. - Reply to this comment
- 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 - Reply to this comment
- 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. - Reply to this comment
- "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. - Reply to this comment
- Thank you California for taking the lead again.
- Reply to this comment
- "Calif. Bans Trans Fats From Restaurants"
Now if they can just ban it from the brains of their citizens...... - Reply to this comment
- oh great - fat people are now sulking
- Reply to this comment
- 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...
I hope the liberals find out soon that you need to have something taken away from you...like using a porcelain toilet...Don''t tell me how to live...worry about your own little lives and stay the H*E* double-tooth-picks out of my life.
RUDY:...THE *** FOOD AND PRODUCTS IS FROM CHINA...But government should not be telling us how to eat...but should say what garbage comes in through a country who treats its people like dogs, has MOST FAVORED NATION status, and won''t allow their people to have more than one child-if it''s a female child-KILL IT...give me a break...if it comes from another country it should be looked at, inspected thoroughly and rejected if it isn''t quality...transfat is my choice. It''s going to change a lot of recipes and freedoms.
You guys can''t believe anything that Bush says...yet for this you can...OH OH OH you make me ill.... - Reply to this comment
- "Yet even though California is considered on the cutting edge, few states follow there lead. "
We just do the right thing, no matter what the other states think. But truth is: they all follow our lead.
Any state could lead, but most are too filled with cowards to. So the coastal states lead; that is how America works. - Reply to this comment
- California,
Did you notice how many things need to be specially made for CA.
Cars
Mowers
Gasoline
Gay Unions
Marijuana
Immigration law
Yet even though California is considered on the cutting edge, few states follow there lead. - Reply to this comment
- "Does this mean that you can''''''''t go to breakfast anywhere in California and get bacon and eggs? "
hmmmm.. so you do not know what trans-fat is , but do not let your ignorance stop you from commenting... - Reply to this comment
- And of course, here is gramma whamma being the biggest jerk of all.
Posted by rudy654 at 07:31 PM
It''''s called quality of life, babe! Now go back to your oxygen tank after you puff on your cigarrette.
Posted by rudy654 at 07:33 PM
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Well Rudy, I have bad news for you. Maybe you should take off those rose colored glasses because your "quality of life" won''t last forever and eventually "even you" will start deteriorating. I hope you realize this. - Reply to this comment
- I have a question. If I had heart disease due to trans fats, could I sue, say, McDonalds for not warning me all those years, or whatever company sells trans fats for food? What is to prevent me from suing as the tobacco companies have been sued?
- Reply to this comment
- Does this mean that you can''''t go to breakfast anywhere in California and get bacon and eggs? Pigs have been outlawed? How absurd. Awnold, go back to diction class.
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Posted by maxify55 at 12:21 PM
Does anyone wonder why Americans are considered to be amongs the most ignorant? Just look at this idiotic comment. - Reply to this comment
- What proof is there to show that this clogs arteries.
None of course, now we have governmenrt telling us what we can and can''''t eat, what kind of light bulbs to use in our homes and the ones they tell us to use has mercury in it. They tell us where we can or can''''t drill for oil, sure our government is looking after our welfare, the government can kiss my a$$! and so can the people of CA!!
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Posted by zgomer at 12:11 PM : Jul 26, 2008
No one wants to kiss your ignorant coroded azz. Get an education. - Reply to this comment
- So once again some government presumes to tell its owners what is best for them. Big Brother is alive and well.
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Posted by VoidMaster at 01:53 AM
You must have loved it when China was selling us poisonous dog food. Bad government for getting involved and stopping it. - Reply to this comment
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