NYC proposal to ban trans fats stuns restaurant industry

The city of New York's health department has unveiled a proposal to ban from use in the city's 24,600 food service establishments any ingredients that contain artificial trans fats — partially hydogenated oils.

Once found in almost every processed food, trans fats are still commonly found in some shortenings, margarine and frying oils, and is heavily used in foods from pie crusts to french fries to doughnuts.

Their danger is not questioned, but the NYC restaurant industry is against a ban, the AP reported.

"Labeling is one thing, but when they totally ban a product, it goes well beyond what we think is prudent and acceptable," said Chuck Hunt, executive vice president of the city's chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association.

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard University School of Public Health, praised New York health officials for considering a ban, which he said could save lives.

"Artificial trans fats are very toxic, and they almost surely causes tens of thousands of premature deaths each year," Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard University School of Public Health said. "The federal government should have done this long ago."

Medicine | Health | Alternative Health News | Trans Fats | Partially Hydrogenated Oils | New York City | HerbBlurbs.com | AltHealthNews.com