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Bill seeks to ban trans fats from Massachusetts
Last Updated: 2006-12-20 8:44:19 -0400 (Reuters Health)
BOSTON (Reuters) - A lawmaker introduced a bill on Tuesday that would make Massachusetts the first U.S. state to ban artificial trans fats from restaurants, closely following New York City's ban of the artery-clogging oils.
"We have an opportunity to vastly improve public health by directing restaurants to switch to healthier alternatives," Peter Koutoujian, a Democratic representative in the Massachusetts Legislature, said in a statement.The bill uses language similar to new regulations announced this month by New York City, but marks the first effort to force restaurants in an entire state to stop frying foods in oils that contain high levels of trans fats.New York's law, believed to be the first of its kind in the United States, requires restaurants including McDonald's Corp. to eliminate trans fats by July 2007 or face fines for each violation.Trans fats increase the risk of heart disease and stroke by increasing levels of so-called "bad" cholesterol, known as LDL, and reducing levels of "good," or HDL, cholesterol.Massachusetts has one of the lowest obesity rates in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."New York City's decision to ban trans fats from restaurants shows how government can take positive action toward improving public health," said Koutoujian, house chairman of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health.Under his proposal, no foods with artificial trans fat could be used to prepare restaurant menu items, with the exception of food served directly to customers in the manufacturer's original sealed package like potato chips.Restaurants would have one year to switch to oils, margarines and shortenings that contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat for every serving.Trans fats occur naturally in some meat and dairy products, which would not be subject to the ban. Instead, the law targets nearly all artificial trans fats, which are chemically added to oils and give french fries their crunch and help create the texture of pie crusts and doughnuts.America's fast-food chains, whose foods are among the most laden with trans fats, are moving toward voluntary reduction.Wendy's International Inc. has reduced trans fats by switching to a different cooking oil, while McDonald's has been trying since 2002 to reduce trans fats in its french fries.The privately held Dunkin' Donuts chain in 2004 started removing trans fats from bagels, muffins and cookies, and is researching alternative ways to make its mainstay doughnuts healthier.Koutoujian said he hopes he'll find support for the bill from fellow lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, which starts its new two-year session in January."There is an overwhelming amount of evidence out there revealing just how damaging trans fats are," he said.
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