In July the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed a bill that would ban trans fats in restaurants. This law took effect on January 1, 2010 for oil and shortening, but January 1, 2011 is the date for discontinuing deep-frying yeast dough and cake batter. Violation of this law could result in a fine of $25 to $1000.
The law barring restaurants from using oils and shortening with more than half a gram of trans fat per serving was pushed by medical groups, including the California Academy of Family Physicians.
New York City, Seattle, Philadelphia and parts of Maryland have banned trans fats in some areas. California is the first state with this law.
Trans fats are basically a partially hydrogenated oil, which is formed when liquid oils are treated with hydrogen to turn them into a solid, for example margarine and shortening. Experts have tied trans fats to clogged arteries, strokes and heart disease. Yet, some think what you eat should be a personal choice. Critics of this ban are under the opinion that people are able to make their own decisions whether they want to eat trans fats or not. If all the facts are presented and visible, then people have the right to choose what they want to eat.
“people are able to make their own decisions whether they want to eat trans fats or not… If all the facts are presented and visible…” But you don’t get all facts presented and visible when ordering in a restaurant so you are not getting to make a choice. NY Times recently had an article about meat scraps formerly used in dog food being treated with ammonia then used for hamburgers in fast food restaurants and school lunches. When you go to order your burger, do you see ‘meat scraps, ammonia and trans fats’ listed on the menu? This regulation is needed, and there’s no change in the tastiness by using healthful oils.
Stalinist regimes are taking away our liberties as United States citizens.What I eat is noboides business especially the governments.Swarzenhitler should go back to austria,from whence he was born.