|
|
|
2007-8-31 17:36:10 |
|
The Montgomery County Council in Maryland on May 15 unanimously passed a resolution to ban the use of artificial trans fats in most foods served in County restaurants and at prepared food sections of supermarkets. The ban proposed by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg makes Montgomery the first county in the county to pass such a ban, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Trans fat is known to not only increase bad cholesterol, but also decrease the good cholesterol. Nutritionists and epidemiologists at Harvard School of Public Health estimated that as many as 100,000 die each year of cardiovascular complications caused by use of trans fat. According to the press release by the Council, the new resolution requires trans fat to be eliminated starting on Jan. 1 2008from oils, shortenings and margarines with artificial trans fats that are used for frying or in spreads in restaurants operated in the county. Starting on Jan 1, 2009, the rules will apply for oil and shortenings that are used for deep frying of yeast dough or cake batter and all other foods containing trans fat. However, waivers may be granted until Jan 1, 2010 for prepackaged foods that are sold in restaurants, according to the Council. "One of the great challenges of 21st Century government emerges from the intersection of science and public policy," Trachtenberg said. "Giving the public all the information they need to choose healthy eating alternatives is good stewardship of the public trust we hold as elected officials." Nationwide, some restaurant chains have already initiated measures to eliminate trans fat in their fast foods. Wendy's became the first big fast-food chain to switch away from trans fat in 2006. Many other restaurants including KFC, Taco Bell, Ruby Tuesday to name a few followed suit and promised to get rid of the artificial fats as soon as possible, according to the CSPI. The county ban was proposed in March by Trachtenberg and amended later by the Council's Health and Human Services Committee with Chairperson George Leventhal and members Roger Berliner and Trachtenberg, according to the Council's statement. "Getting artificial trans fat out of restaurants is one of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways for a city, county or state to save lives and health care dollars," said CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson said. Earlier, New York City and Philadelphia became the first cities to pass laws getting artificial trans fat out of the restaurants and New York's law begins to take effect for deep frying in July. "Councilmember Trachtenberg and the rest of the Montgomery County Council should be applauded for boldly protecting the health of the region's restaurant-goers and for setting an example an example for tow councils or state legislatures from coast to coast," Jacobson said. The Food and Drug Administration early required and updated the requirement on Jan. 1 2006 that tarns fat should be labeled for the packaged foods. But 0.5 gram per serving is allowed to be labeled as "Trans fat: 0 gram". In the New York's law, 0.5 gram per serving is also allowed in restaurants. Details of the resolution passed by the Montgomery County Council are not immediately clear. But news reports say that the resolution also allows 0.5 gram per serving, similar to the New York City law. Trans fat poses long-term effects on cardiovascular health. There is no safe limit, according to scientists and 100 percent of it should be removed from one's diet. But the FDA recognizes that it is difficult for the food industry to absolutely avoid use of trans fat, warning in one of its documents that consumers should not pursue 100 percent avoidance of trans fat as doing so could lead to malnutrition because of the limited selections of trans-fat free foods. Accordingly, the current recommendation is that consumers should limit their daily intake of trans fat to less than one percent of energy from trans fat, which is equivalent to about 2 grams per day for an adult. Trans fat naturally occurs in dairy products such as cow milk. Because of this, there is no room for artificial trans fat to be added to processed foods or used as a cooking aid, CSPI said. |
