Monday, August 15, 2005

Please comply, restauranteurs.

In a bold move, New York City's health department has asked all city restaurants stop using trans fats in their food preparation, the New York Times reports. To say this is a bold move is really an understatement. 30 to 60 percent of all of the cities' restaurants use trans fats currently in their menus. The request comes on the heels of a report that heart diseas has become New York's largest killer.

The health department is the first in the nation to make such a request in the United States. I applaud them. The harm trans fat can do to a body can be likened to asbestos exposure. Not only do trans fats build placque in your veins but it also inhibits good fats from doing thier job in reducing cholesterol. Denmark was the first country in the world to ban them all together in 2003, Canada has a similar ban up for consideration. I would hope that other cities will follow New York's lead. More on trans fats to come.