Reuters is reporting that New York City’s ban on trans-fats in restaurants, which took full effect on Tuesday, is the first of its kind among major U.S. cities. The move follows the city’s 2003 ban on public smoking.
My Take?
As I’ve told you in past blogs, a year ago, New York restaurants were banned from using the artery-clogging fats in cooking oils and spreads. Now, all trans-fat products are banned.
Restaurants are continuing to cry blood murder. But, since no amount of trans-fat is healthy and any amount can be harmful, I think this is a great public health measure and hope other cities will choose to do the same (and, in fact, recommended this in my book SuperSized Kids: How to protect your child from the obesity threat).
Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King, and McDonalds Corp., as well as KFC and Pizza Hut, all say that they have eliminated trans-fats from their New York restaurants, and they are on track to do the same across the country.
You can learn more about trans-fats and food labels, as well as how to make healthy choices in restaurants in my book SuperSized Kids: How to protect your child from the obesity threat.