CMR

Becomes First State To Ban Restaurant Trans Fat Usage

Los Angeles- The state of California has joined in the health war against trans fats.

It became the first state to ban their usage in restaurants beginning in 2010 when Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill that was passed by both houses of the California legislature.

The new law phases out trans fats in restaurants by 2010 and by all retail baked goods by 2011. Packaged foods prepared elsewhere evidently will be exempt.

The state of California has 88,000 restaurants, and this type of large ban is a huge boost for the health movement that opposes trans fats in foods.

Consumer advocates, concerned parents, scientists as well as others who believe that the synthetic fat leads to early heart disease have led the overall effort against trans fats.

“The potential is here to expand this success to other states,” said Dr. Clyde Yancy, the new incoming president of the American Heart Association.

Trans Fats are created by taking liquid oil and then pumping hydrogen through it at a high temperature that creates what is called hydrogenated fats.

This has historically created an inexpensive, easily created fat that has been used to prolong shelf life in foods.