NYC mulls ban on trans fats in eateries

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060927/ap_on_he_me/diet_trans_fat_ban

By DAVID B. CARUSO, Associated Press Writer Wed Sep 27, 2:32 AM ET

NEW YORK - Three years after the city banned smoking in restaurants, health officials are talking about prohibiting something they say is almost as bad: artificial trans fatty acids.
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The city health department unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would bar cooks at any of the city's 24,600 food service establishments from using ingredients that contain the artery-clogging substance, commonly listed on food labels as partially hydrogenated oil.

Artificial trans fats are found in some shortenings, margarine and frying oils and turn up in foods from pie crusts to french fries to doughnuts.

Doctors agree that trans fats are unhealthy in nearly any amount, but a spokesman for the restaurant industry said he was stunned the city would seek to ban a legal ingredient found in millions of American kitchens.

"Labeling is one thing, but when they totally ban a product, it goes well beyond what we think is prudent and acceptable," said Chuck Hunt, executive vice president of the city's chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association.

He said the proposal could create havoc: Cooks would be forced to discard old recipes and scrutinize every ingredient in their pantry. A restaurant could face a fine if an inspector finds the wrong type of vegetable shortening on its shelves.

The proposal also would create a huge problem for national chains. Among the fast foods that would need to get an overhaul or face a ban: McDonald's french fries, Kentucky Fried Chicken and several varieties of Dunkin' Donuts.

Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden acknowledged that the ban would be a challenge for restaurants, but he said trans fats can easily be replaced with substitute oils that taste the same or better and are far less unhealthy.

"It is a dangerous and unnecessary ingredient," Frieden said. "No one will miss it when it's gone."

A similar ban on trans fats in restaurant food has been proposed in Chicago and is still under consideration, although it has been ridiculed by some as unnecessary government meddling.

The latest version of the Chicago plan would only apply to companies with annual revenues of more than $20 million, a provision aimed exclusively at fast-food giants.

A few companies have moved to eliminate trans fats on their own.

Wendy's announced in August that it had switched to a new cooking oil that contains no trans fatty acids. Crisco now sells a shortening that contains zero trans fats. Frito-Lay removed trans fats from its Doritos and Cheetos. Kraft's took trans fats out of Oreos.

McDonald's began using a trans fat-free cooking oil in Denmark after that country banned artificial trans fats in processed food, but it has yet to do so in the United States.

Walt Riker, vice president of corporate communications at McDonald's, said in a statement Tuesday that the company would review New York's proposal.

"McDonald's knows this is an important issue, which is why we continue to test in earnest to find ways to further reduce (trans fatty acid) levels," he said.

New York's health department had asked restaurants to impose a voluntary ban last year but found use of trans fats unchanged in recent surveys.

Under the New York proposal, restaurants would need to get artificial trans fats out of cooking oils, margarine and shortening by July 1, 2007, and all other foodstuffs by July 1, 2008. It would not affect grocery stores. It also would not apply to naturally occurring trans fats, which are found in some meats and dairy.

The Board of Health has yet to approve the proposal and will not do so until at least December, Frieden said.

The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration began requiring food labels to list trans fats in January.

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard University School of Public Health, praised New York health officials for considering a ban, which he said could save lives.

"Artificial trans fats are very toxic, and they almost surely causes tens of thousands of premature deaths each year," he said. "The federal government should have done this long ago."

Your thoughts? Good idea or bad idea?

The government should pave my roads and shut up. They have no right to ban a food additive because it's unhealthy.

Definitely a good thing. Americans are as fat as it is; the last thing we need is an artificial fat that's addicting.

Originally posted by Kinneary
The government should pave my roads and shut up. They have no right to ban a food additive because it's unhealthy.

Back in the days when mercury was used in hat making and lead contaminated tinned food due to the sealing process...

Would you have complained then as well? "The government should pave the roads and shut up. They have no right to ban deadly metals used in the canning process."

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard University School of Public Health, praised New York health officials for considering a ban, which he said could save lives.

"Artificial trans fats are very toxic, and they almost surely causes tens of thousands of premature deaths each year," he said. "The federal government should have done this long ago.""Artificial trans fats are very toxic, and they almost surely causes tens of thousands of premature deaths each year," he said. "The federal government should have done this long ago."

Tens of thousands of premature deaths caused by trans-fats, bullshit. Article lost crediblity right there.

Originally posted by Soleran
Tens of thousands of premature deaths caused by trans-fats, bullshit. Article lost crediblity right there.

Well, that is a quote from someone. Not exactly the article's "saying."

But anyway, I think Dawsey just really wanted to know if you think this would be a good idea or not. I don't think there is much concern about the credibility of the article.

If its a good idea or not they are using words from guys that have Harvard so and so's to validate their position in "doing the right thing."

Retarded, just retarded.

Originally posted by Soleran
If its a good idea or not they are using words from guys that have Harvard so and so's to validate their position in "doing the right thing."

Retarded, just retarded.

Wait... I'm confused.... so its retarded to quote a health experts oppinion on the subject?

Originally posted by Imperial_Samura
Wait... I'm confused.... so its retarded to quote a health experts oppinion on the subject?

No, they posted his opinion of trans-fats without any proof to validate it.

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard University School of Public Health, praised New York health officials for considering a ban, which he said could save lives.

"Artificial trans fats are very toxic, and they almost surely causes tens of thousands of premature deaths each year," he said. "The federal government should have done this long ago."

He said they are ALMOST surely causes TEN of THOUSANDS of PREMATURE deaths each year. Such marketing bullshit loaded into that its scary. Whats worse is you not actually taking the time to read it as it's written and looking to validate it.

Next we're going to have a Vegan specialist get quoted for the various PREMATURE deaths steak is involved in each year, yeah whatever.

Originally posted by Soleran
No, they posted his opinion of trans-fats without any proof to validate it.

Well, it is a Internet news article - they aren't always known for loading down the stories with all the medical journal articles and the like that have been done on subjects such as this.

I believe it is fair to assume, from what I know of people in such posts at universities, that they generally don't make sweeping statements for no reason. There is likely a good reason why the Harvard Health expert is saying it... could it be because he has reason to think it is a good move? Could it be the fault of the article alone, and not so much the Harvard chap and the people behind this move, that is causing you dismay?

He said they are ALMOST surely causes TEN of THOUSANDS of PREMATURE deaths each year. Such marketing bullshit loaded into that its scary. Whats worse is you not actually taking the time to read it as it's written and looking to validate it.

As above - I am believe there is likely a reason why a health expert at a major educational institute would be saying it. Maybe it is because... there are studies that support the claim, and just because the articles author doesn't see fit to include them does not invalidate the claim.

Maybe you should dispute the science of the matter, rather then the way one of the quoted sources words his sentances?

Originally posted by Imperial_Samura
Back in the days when mercury was used in hat making and lead contaminated tinned food due to the sealing process...

Would you have complained then as well? "The government should pave the roads and shut up. They have no right to ban deadly metals used in the canning process."

It's no business of the government how much fat I eat. If I weigh 450 pounds, the government has no right to say that I have to stop eating french fries (unless I'm being taken care of on the state's dime, which is a whole different issue). The government is responsible for providing for the general safety of the populace, and should they decide to launch an ad campaign highlighting the dangers of trans fats, that's one thing. Banning it because it's not healthy is something else.

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Definitely a good thing. Americans are as fat as it is; the last thing we need is an artificial fat that's addicting.

I'm not fat, and I live in NYC...I'll take my trans fat, thank you very much.🙂

I see why they're doing it, but I don't think it's right, personally.

Well, there goes the New York Pizza slice. ❌

Originally posted by Kinneary
I think you totally missed the point of my post.

It's no business of the government how much fat I eat. If I weigh 450 pounds, the government has no right to say that I have to stop eating french fries (unless I'm being taken care of on the state's dime, which is a whole different issue). The government is responsible for providing for the general safety of the populace, and should they decide to launch an ad campaign highlighting the dangers of trans fats, that's one thing. Banning it because it's not healthy is something else.

I think you are confused - you do know there are different types of fat correct? That banning trans fat isn't the same as banning all fat? That you can still weigh 450 pounds even without trans fat?

Unlike every other type of fat there are zero health benefits or dietary requirements for eating it. In fact it is highly detrimental for health, with a correlation having been shown between trans fat and blood problems/heart disease. You can completely remove trans fats and it is not going to adversely affect the taste of food, or your ability to get fat - why? Because the other fats remain that, in moderation, are actually a part of a balanced diet.

Trans fats however are not - they are comparable to the lead example I gave - they can occur naturally in small amounts, or be a by product of processing - like the lead. And like the lead they have a detrimental affect on health (just slower then the lead.) There is not a single valid reason why they shouldn't be removed from foods when they serve no purpose and actually are harmful in the long run.

*bump*

remember when people were programmed to get triggered over simpler things, like being robbed of their precious body-rotting trans fats? remember when this was going to ruin the taste of mcdonalds, kfc, doritos, etc? meanwhile it all tastes the same, the doom&gloomer internet hobbyists were all wrong, they never lost their freedom to become obese and diabetic by over-consuming junk food, and they still love doritos. isn't that weird?

see? none of this silliness is new, we just changed topics. merry christmas, all 🙂

Hey! Remember when Grave Digging Old Threads was considered a Bannable Offence!?

Yeah I do. Good Times.

I hope all of your Holidays are Pure Bullshit!!!!!

Go to Hell Robtard!

oh ethneostarflyofbrooklyn, I'm sorry thaf you're triggered on christmas. feel better 🙁