Trans-fats banned in California

[Guest guest]

Relevant to recent discussions on the list:

Trans-fats banned in California

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7526624.stm

California has become the first US state to ban restaurants and food

retailers from using trans-fats, which are linked to coronary heart

disease.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the new legislation, which will

take effect in 2010, represented a " strong step toward creating a

healthier future " .

Violations will incur fines of between $25 (£13) and $1,000 (£502).

Trans-fats are chemically altered vegetable oils, used to give

processed foods a longer shelf-life.

Some cities, like New York City, Philadelphia and Seattle, have

already banned the fats. Many food makers and restaurant chains have

also been experimenting with replacements for oils and foods that

contain them.

Trans-fats are produced artificially in a process called

hydrogenation which turns liquid oil into solid fat.

They can be used for frying or baking, or put into processed foods

and ready-made mixes for cakes and drinks like hot chocolate.

Trans-fats are used because they are cheap, add bulk to products,

have a neutral flavour and give products a long shelf-life.

The US Food and Drug Administration estimates that on average,

Americans eat 4.7lb (2.14kg) of trans-fats each year.

A review by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 concluded

that there was a strong connection between the consumption of trans-

fats and coronary heart disease. It found they boosted " bad "

cholesterol levels in the body.

The review said that eliminating artificial trans-fats from the food

supply could prevent between six and 19% of heart attacks and related

deaths each year.

The legislation signed by Mr Schwarzenegger will ban from 1 January

2010 the use of trans-fats in oil, shortening and margarine used in

spreads or for frying.

The president of the California Academy of Family Physicians,

Luther, said that the law, " when it finally takes effect, will be a

tremendous benefit " , adding that there was no safe level of

consumption, as with cigarettes.

The California Restaurant Association opposed the ban, but a

spokesman said that it had no plans to challenge it in the courts, in

part because some restaurants have already begun to phase out trans-

fats to satisfy customers.

==================

Carruthers

Wakefield, UK