Boston - The Montgomery County MD Council ruled in a unanimous decision to be the first county in the U.S. to ban trans fats from foods.
The ban affects all eating and drinking establishments in an attempt to try and curb the obesity issue and allow people to eat healthier when they cannot cook at home.
Council Member Duchy Trachtenberg stated that “Trans fats are clearly linked to heart disease and diabetes.”
The ban will take effect on January 1st and the ban on the sale of baked goods will begin on January 1, 2009.
Companies who produce pre-packaged foods can request a waiver to give them until January 1, 2010 if they cannot meet the deadline. This follows of big cities such as New York City who enacted such a ban and will likely now continue to spread.
Researchers believe if the amount of trans fat is reduced, 10 to 19% of heart disease could be avoided.
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I thought we lived in a country where people had a RIGHT to choose and make decisions for themselves! So now the government is going to tell us what we can and cannot eat! This is the first step into a very slippery slope. I wish us all luck!
Comment by Tex — May 16, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
When are you fat police going to leave us alone. We choose to eat good greasy food. I work hard for a living & want to eat real food when I get home. I don’t want to eat a watered down version of a hamburger & french fries.
Comment by Joan — May 16, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Its not the governments business to tell people what they can have or not have. The socialists mindset has so infiltrated the US it is scary. What next? There will be many other areas of our lives the government stands ready to intrude into and they will if no oe stands up. Hey I don’t eat that stuff myself but its my choice not the governments to control me. Stand up people or you will loose your freedoms. They are being taken away a small piece at a time.
Comment by Quark — May 16, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
While I despise trans fats personally, is it really the government’s place to decide what a person can or can’t eat? This isn’t comparable to the FDA’s protection from foods that will immediately make you ill. I felt this way about the ubiquitous smoking bans that have invaded just about every restaurant in the US. No, I don’t smoke, but it’s a matter of principle. If a place wants to serve horrible awfulness, then people need to be strong enough to choose a healthier alternative. There’s always Subway.
Comment by Kent Williams — May 16, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Joan, it’s not really possible to water down a hamburger and french fries. And Tex, the government is not trying to “food police” you so much as they are trying to say you cannot serve food with poison in it.
The two of you as well as everyone have options to eat anything you want. Go buy some free range grass fed ground beef and fry it up or throw it on the grill and taste what a real hamburger is. Not some beef factory cheaply grain fed anti-biotic filled prisoner cow.
Also, go to your local farmer’s market and buy a fresh organic potato to make your french fries.
You both probably won’t do either of these things. You could have something better than what you want, but both sound like you’d rather just complain.
Comment by Greg — May 16, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
Great news. Does this include hydrogenated vegetable oils (palm kernel oil or coconut oil) ? I thought that they were causing heart disease.
Comment by John — May 16, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
I truly agree with everyone above. Why should the government dictate our eating habbits. I want the luxury of eating super greasy and unhealthy food when i want to. Not that i like it. Let the people choose what is right and what is wrong. Seems more like the U.S is turning into a dictatorship like China, and they are turning like the U.S. Good luck to all of us.
Comment by Raj — May 16, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
Fabulous! Trans fats are poison, plain & simple, and I applaud any government agency willing/able to prevent the large food manufacturing conglomerates from slowly killing off americans for their profit. This move is precisely what I expect from my tax dollars - protection from hazardous products.
Comment by Bob — May 16, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
It’s a shame that we can do something as easy as that but we still can’t BAN CIGARETTES which are far worse for not only the smokers’ health but everyone around them also.
Comment by It's a shame — May 16, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Ok. Don’t jump to conclusions.
The only reason trans fats are in food is because they make it last longer. Have you ever seen McDonald’s fries after they have been sitting around for a year? Nothing changes. The transfats add very little taste to the food. The only thing it does is make people fat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat
I hope this ban goes into effect because it will help stop people like you from messing up the human gene pool with your obesity. 60% America is obese and its not glandular.
Comment by You are fat. — May 16, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Go Greg!
Comment by Jennifer — May 16, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
I think the three people above are being ridiculous. Banning trans fat in restaurants does not mean you cant eat all the french fries you want. You can still go to the store and buy all the trans fat you would like. This simply requires that partially hydrogenated oils cannot be used in the preparation of these foods at restaurants. These oils are not naturally occuring and thus, they were added in the 1950s. It was not known how harmful these oils are to the heart when they were introduced and no one is complaining of chips, crackers, cookies, cakes, etc suddenly tasting bad because trans fat has been taken out. You will never know that the french fries you are eating have no trans fat compared to the 8g it had before the ban. If changing a type of oil is all we need to do even make a slight impact on heart disease in this country, I think a law for it is just fine. Don’t complain about tax increases if you’re not willing to help curb a public health crisis as large as obesity and heart disease. In the meantime, eat what you want…no one ever said you can’t.
Comment by K — May 16, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
The Trans fat does not make the burger any greasier than non-hydrogenated fat. You can still have your greasy fries and burger just as before, but the restaurants are going to have to make some changes (like change their fry oil once in a while). Consumer demand drives the market, so the products you are already acustomed to eating are perceptually going to be the same, but the manufacturers are faced with the challenge of making it taste the same but eliminate the Trans Fat. If the product doesn’t taste the same, demand for it will fall and manufacturers don’t want that.
Eric, Food Technologist
Comment by Eric — May 16, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
John - get your facts straight - Coconut oil has nothing to do with heart disease. It is one of the only oils that doesn’t denature when cooked.
Trans Fats should have been banned long ago, people are too ignorant and fad-crazy to make responsible health choices. Plus, trans fats don’t make things taste better, they just fill your organs with toxins. If you “free thinkers” were really so worried about being controlled by the government you woldn’t let corporations sell you on a lifestyle that will end up making docors and insurance companies very rich.
Comment by Jenya — May 16, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
This is not the first time the Government has regulated something, While it is a good move, where has our government been the last 60 years on this and must more important issues?
Comment by philos — May 16, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
The general population needs to be lead, they are children and need the government has to help and protect them. Freedom is lost when we forget how to think for our selves, or when others take our choices away.
Comment by S. Nelson — May 16, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
The best tasting food is trans-fat free anyways. It looks like good cuisine is socialist! Sweet! And yes, to be inflammatory, I will say that since the people who eat the poisoned cows typically evince the equivalent of the latter’s intelligence, we certainly do need such council decisions…
Comment by Ryan Ferrera — May 16, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Maybe if there was less insurance money spent on clogged arteries, heart attacks and gastric bypass surgeries health care costs would start to decrease. You can snarf down all the greasy food you want, but the rest of us are paying for what you do to your health. If this is the only way to get people to change and be healthier, so be it. I also agree with “It’s a shame” on this one.
Comment by To Health — May 16, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Trans fat is not a food.Plumbing codes keep us from killing ourselves,remember Chicago had 1/3 the population die from dumping sewage in the Lake then drinking it.Nothing new here.Rethink what big business has done- warped your mind to fill their pockets.Fat( not trans fat) taste good and is good for you.Sugar is what makes people fat and rots their teeth.Weston Price Foundation is a non profit organization with an extensive web site for learning the truth.
Comment by steve — May 16, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Trans Fat is the same thing as hydrogenated oil.It is a man made product.It is not a natural oil.It clogs arteries.It does not make you fat.Crisco is hydrogenated oil.It is a solid not liquid.It turns to a solid when they put hydrogene into it.Thats what it does in you veins.It turns back into a solid and stops them up.
Comment by J Maxon — May 16, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
I enjoy cooking and find it hard to obtain good quality produce/meats. Being raised on a farm, I’ve been able to enjoy “fresh” meat. Since moving away from the homestead, I’ve had to endure the garbage they serve at grocery stores. I started looking into it at the local library - what some of the manufactures do to the food approved for sales in this country is disgusting. If they don’t ban certain practices/foods, I would at least like to see more choices made available. The problem is, no one but me and a select few others would purchase these “quality” foods (b/c they would cost too much, its “new” and no one wants to try them, etc.) I’d rather see a ban (and no choice for “poison”) than a lack of healthier foods available.
Comment by MtW — May 16, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
good move I say. spend way to much on preventable diseases as it is.
Comment by billy — May 16, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
The first few posts were way off. Like a few posts mentioned earlier, trans fats are hydrogenated oils. This makes them simulate cholesterol. They were used as a substitute once cholesterol was found to be harmful, and in turn were worse. They don’t affect the taste of food, but the consistency of it. It isn’t in meat, it is mostly in frying oil and packaged goods. Any time an artificial alternative to something detrimental to our health is proposed the average consumer accepts it as if it were a magic answer. The same goes with artificial sweeteners. There has been evidence against trans fats for a long time now, which really makes a point for how politically interwoven the FDA really is. The recent changes on food labels should actually post the trans fats in MG, like cholesterol is, and is deceptive when it says 0g, because really it is rounding down the MG. The consumer has to check the ingredients to be 100% sure. If it says hydrogenated oils, then it has trans fats.
Comment by Sean — May 16, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Bravo for Boston! However, did someone take the “F” out of FDA? Why does a local county have to do the job of the FDA: ensuring food and drugs are safe for the public? The FDA is required to ban hazardous prescription drugs -why not a *ubiquitous* food ingredient? Food additives reach more people than prescriptions drugs; the FDA should test them for adverse consequences like a drug and prevent their distribution. I believe the same premise applies to cigarettes.
As for liberties -I believe it’s the American way to have our liberties to the extent that they don’t impose on others. That is, I don’t want to pay for another American’s healthcare due to his bad decisions.
Personally I love hamburgers and fries -cooked in real saturated fat and vegetable oils. Those fats are a fine source of pleasurable, usable calories. Eliminating trans fats won’t limit our choices, folks! Things will taste great; no worries!
Comment by Tim — May 16, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
great. is “big brother” going to tell me to go to church on sundays next? I think it is just awsome that my goverment is alwasy going to be there to tell me i dont know what is in my best interest. the principal of this makes me feel like jumping undar a bus.
~T~
Comment by loki — May 16, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
First, you can eat as much trans-fats as you like. They haven’t outlawed margarine, or Crisco, or any other trans-fat. As long as you cook it yourself. So fear not, your right to poison YOURSELF has not been abridged.
The only trans-fat concoction that *I* will miss is pie crust. As far as I can figure, that’s the only thing that’s actually improved by a hydrogenated vegetable oil.
On a side note, I’d be curious to know what side the pro-hydrogenated-fat crowd falls on the smoking issue. Another issue of my right to not be poisoned infringing on your right to poison yourself and everyone around you.
Comment by James — May 16, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
I really wish they wouldn’t ban Trans fats and just let people make a decision for themselves. Because, how else is natural selection of the human race going to occur? I believe in survival of the fittest and if your a big fat cow, you ain’t fit for life as a human.
Comment by Philosyphilis — May 16, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Would prefer trans fats be controlled than what I can access on the computer at the library. Because of the Patriot Act government officials are checking the list of books I read/borrow/ or buy.
Costs all of us big bucks when we have to use resources for medical expenses whether or not an individual has insurance. We all have an interest in keeping each other healthy.
If businesses aren’t forced to use healthy fats in their prepared foods, they won’t. The foods people like best are just as good with healthy fats and you can’t tell the difference in taste, but people don’t seem to be able to control their own appetites when it comes to favorite foods. They’ll eat the unhealthy if healthy isn’t available.
There are only so many resources available to be divvied up and when people overuse them because they don’t want to eat healthy, it takes away from other people. There isn’t enough for everyone and that’s the way it is. One way to ration is to make fewer medical resources necessary in the first place. Eat healthy.
Comment by C. Clark — May 16, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
There is absolutely nothing wrong with banning trans fat. Trans fat does nothing but make you fat, while have the side effect of being able to stay in your body longer. They government is not telling us what we can and can not eat, it’s just sending a message to the Fast-food resturants that they have to make their food healtier so that their customers are more fit.
The government is not banning what you can’t or can eat, if you really wanted to , you could still go to boston, get some potatos, and fry them in a high trans fat oil and eat them.
Comment by Jay Z — May 16, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
So if you own a fast food chain like McDonalds are you just screwed? This seems just unconstitutional.
Comment by Peter — May 16, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
People have been allowed to make these decisions the whole time and yet the obesity rate has skyrocketed. I’m sorry, but when my tax dollars and insurance premiums go towards helping someone’s bad decision making fat ass stay alive, it’s time for SOMEONE to step in.
Comment by Mike — May 16, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Trans fats are causing many problems and eventually deathly diseases.
Government has undeniable responsibilities and shall take the lead to protect its most valuable asset - us.
Banning trans fats is a must and shall have no second choice.
The ones who oppose the banning shall get to know trans fats better. People need to understand even suiciding is a crime.
Comment by Mike — May 16, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
We have reached a point in our country where, for the first time in all of history, it is easier and cheaper to get greasy, unhealthy foods than natural organic products.
The trans fat oils that you can’t even taste are killing the middle and low income population.
Let’s help out the ignorant people and take a stand agaist corporate poisons used only to turn a higher profit.
Comment by Joshua — May 16, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
How is this different from the war on weed? Heart attacks claim far more lives- including those of drivers on the highway.
All thats missing from the campaign to ban transfat is racial stereotypes and blatent lies about crimes crimes commited under its influence (where is anslinger when you need him?).
Comment by Kevin — May 16, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
If a food coloring was to be found to be carcinogenic and was justifiably banned I doubt there would be much of a fuss. Trans fats have been identified as being dangerous to human health. They simply need to go.
As for cigarettes? As a non smoker I hate the fact that my respiratory tract is exposed to such a chemical soup simply by walking down the street. At a minimum these addicts need to self medicate in private, preferably in a bubble of some kind.
Comment by Pete — May 16, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
This is my second posting.
I do not want to consume any trans fats, so what are my choices? I glad government is doing its job to protect us.
The banning is absolutely appropriate since it will protect us from being contaminated by eating in restaurants or buying food products, especially for people who are not aware nor understand how dangerous trans fats are.
Comment by Mike — May 16, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
The costs of obesity are something that tax payers and working people pay for. If you want to go eat a nice high fat meal and be a walrus on your own dime go for it but I don’t want to pay for your hospital care when your heart gives out. Yeah, you may have a job and health insurance, but every single person at your job pays for your premium.
Transfat free does not mean fat free. There are plenty of good for you fats that you can eat so if you miss that feeling of grease flowing down your double chin you can still enjoy it without making the rest of us pay for your diabetes medication.
Comment by Ariel — May 16, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
First step on the slippery slope? Get real. Smokers warned you folks along time ago. But hey, no one stood up for the smokers, now don’t expect them to stand up for you.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
Great news! Large cities are doing it, so why not counties?
Comment by Mark — May 16, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
Greg, move to a socialist or communist country. Then your opinion about the government controling choices would be valid. It is not valid here though.
As far as natural beef and vegitables, I have raised my own. Sometimes it is easier to go elsewhere. And, sometimes I like my hot buttered popcorn, which has already been altered by people like you.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
“So if you own a fast food chain like McDonalds are you just screwed? This seems just unconstitutional.”
What? Please point to the section of the constitution that gives a company a right to produce food that is directly linked to heart disease.
They aren’t going to go out of business, they are simply going to have to use a different kind of fat to cook with. TRANS FATS ARE ONLY ONE KIND OF FAT AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF HEALTHIER, FATTY REPLACEMENTS. McDonalds will be just fine.
Comment by Marcus — May 16, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
“Does this include hydrogenated vegetable oils (palm kernel oil or coconut oil) ? I thought that they were causing heart disease.”
Palm &/or coconut oils - these are “saturated fats” but natural and relatively healthy oils (esp. when raw).
‘Trans-fats’ are exclusively found in industrial products {ie. margerine or Crisco, found in most US baked goods).
The confusion in this country is awesome, thanks to industry and ‘economic interest’ - keep it up!
Comment by hilarleo — May 16, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Bob, it was not that long ago that trans fatty acids were to be the answer. What happened?
Exercise will go further to improve your health then anything else. Get the food Nazis out of my restaurant.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
K - You and the others for this law are all about force, not choice. You want to force people to live your choices in life, and that is anti-American.
People like you make this country worse. You increase the stress in this nation, and stress is still the number one killer. Stop trying to force me to live like you. Or one day someone may force you to stop forcing us.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
“Get the food Nazis out of my restaurant.”
Well using your glorious logic:
Get the fat asses who want to eat that poison off of my insurance plan so I don’t have to pay for their foul appetite with higher insurance premiums.
Comment by Sarah — May 16, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
Eric, a voice of reason at least. You are partly correct.
However, you fail in one aspect of your opinion. Allowing the consumers to know who is serving trans fats, so they can make an educated choice. This way, no one is forced into compliance.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
Jenya, another person who thinks people must be forced into making the right decision. I despise you and your ilk.
I can prove you are under educated. Doctors no longer “get rich” in this country. The health insurance companies have seen to that.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
I don’t understand why trans fats shall only allowed to be consumed since they shall only be used in mechanical lubrication/
Comment by Mike — May 16, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Well, it is nice to see all the free thinkers out there who believe the government should be our nannies. I guess progressive liberalism is here to stay.
I will never trust a progressive. They are liars who believe in utopia. Well, this is the path to their dream. Compliance through force. Create an ever growing twisted array of laws that no one can understand, yet easily run afoul of. Sounds like the Un-Amercian dream to me.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Why not just let the fat people die. Why don’t the insurance companys change policy not to cover obese people. Problem solved. Then your choice could cost you your life.
Comment by Jesse Peterson — May 16, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Sarah - you again display your ignorance. Your insurance premiums are up to pay for people abusing the hospital system. And for the insurance companies to make money.
Immigration control and laws governing health insurace would go along way to fix those problems. Forcing me to live your life style will just create more problems.
I have seen 20 years of this BS, and I have surpassed my tolerance for it. This anti-American attitude that we can just pass a law to make people act “more like me” is just stupid. And so are the people who believe that passing such laws to make others comply are stupid also.
Besides, most people who eat these trans-fats, can not afford insurance anyway. So, it is obvious they are not the problem. But hey, you can’t see past your hollier then thou attitudes anyway, so how would you know that.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
[…] Thus far, several major U.S. cities have taken steps to ban trans fat in restaurants. Now, a whole county says no to Frankenfats. […]
Pingback by Mark’s Daily Apple » Blog Archive » A Case of the Clicks — May 16, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
To all the people who left comments COMPLAINING about this turn of events, “YOU ARE COMPLETELY BRAIND DEAD”. Thank you.
I am almost sickened reading some of these responses!!! Really.. I cannot believe some of you WANT to eat SH!T for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Um.. what makes you think TRANS fat TASTES GOOD? You don’t even KNOW what the sh!t tastes like. It doesn’t taste like anything but grease… and they have plenty of “healthier” grease for all you fatties who NEED it. Jeesh. Go have a heart attack and then whine your cheeseburger doesn’t have transfat. Get a life…
Comment by Mike — May 16, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
Let it be known, that I do not eat any trans fats that do not occur naturally.
However, I believe education, not legislation, to be the key. Ofcourse, I doubt that any of you understand that fats that are not trans fats have a limited shelf life. Rancid oils are going to become more common. And, the price of all meals purchased outside the home will increase substantially, without question.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
Trans fats are mainly used because they are very inexpensive and for advertisement purposes (make things like fries have nice golden sheen when cooked). They provide nothing in flavor for the meal. There are other fats that will make your food taste just as good and be better for you.
The only thing that will change is that McDonald’s might have to spend 1/20th of a cent more per burger or batch of fries… a real shame that.
Comment by Ray — May 16, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
I live in Montgomery County MD, and I read this in the Washington Post this morning. I am really angered at this decision. If I want to get high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and fat, it’s my own damn business. At least I’ll enjoy myself while I’m doing it by eating food that tastes good. Who cares how good it is for me.
It’s my body, my decisions.
Comment by Peter Sperduto — May 16, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Mike, you are an Anti-American mooncalf. Just because I do not want the government regulating everything in my life does not mean I eat trans-fats.
Only an uneducated sop would want the government to regulate every aspect of their lives. That is what you and people like you are trying to accomplish. Isn’t life enough of a struggle already, without the added stress (number one killer) of idiotic laws.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
If food manufacturers and restaurants were putting rat poison in our food there would be an outcry but the effects of trans fat take much longer so most people don’t care or choose not to believe they are being harmed. However the end result is the same, premature death.
Comment by Jim — May 16, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Also, to any who think that changing oils will only add 1/20th the cost per burger or batch of fries. Wake up. Trans fats exist because it increases the shelf life of the product, no other reason. By using oils with less of a shelf life, they will have to purchase smaller amounts so it does not go rancid. Smaller purchase amounts means higher costs, because you do not purchase in high quantities to get a delivery discount. Prices will increase. It is unavoidable. This has been the case in every instance of government regulation.
Comment by Bolverk — May 16, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson
This really is a great quote. Unfortunately, it has little to do with the above as many of you seem to want to believe. There is a difference from a government trying to control your life and a government removing dangerous practices from big industries that only care about profit.
There was a time when we would feed our cows ground up unused remains of slaughtered livestock. This caused Mad Cow Disease. When this practice was banned, it made a lot of people upset as it removed a cheap way to feed their animals but it was a practice that was very dangerous to human life. It is along these lines that this law is being passed.
Comment by Ray — May 16, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
i am glad this law will be put into affect all you fat pigs who want to spende the rest of your lives eating fat greasy heart attacks on a bun can do what you want but this is for your own good. you’ll be gratefull for this wehn you dont die at the age of 30 wieghing 700 pounds.
everyone who opposes this law are fat slobby pigs
Comment by simon zhang — May 16, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
Regarding Comment #35:
banning a food coloring because of a cancer concern:
see this link:
(http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/col-221.html)
and read under the heading “Red Scare”
Comment by SR — May 16, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
i think we should be protected by our government thats why we pay taxes right?
Comment by me — May 16, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Bolverk Thanks for your comments. I 100% agree. You said all my comment not needed.
Comment by AD — May 16, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
The government is not trying to ‘restrict yout freedom’ (It’s funny how Americans might think that, while the government removes real freedoms - like free speech - right, left and center.)
No. The government is freeing you from the tyranny imposed by the fast-food merchants of death. They’re the ones who - by their enormous ad-spend - brainwashed you into thinking a “Happy Meal” was either happy, or a meal.
If you really think that consuming trans-fats is a ‘freedom’, see if you still believe it when climbing on to the operating table for a heart bypass or to have your stomach stapled.
Comment by Clive — May 16, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
We can others with smoking and drinking but not ourselves. Ban smoking and drinking??
To much money in taxes there. We need to get real……..Eat make love and be happy…Ed
Comment by Ed Conklin — May 16, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
you guys are retarded. You cant taste trans fat!! You will not know the difference. Corporatins know that shit is bad, but its cheap and they make more money. Its all about money and they dont give a fuck about health. WAKE UP! Thank god its getting banned!
Comment by Mike — May 16, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
We can KILL others with smoking and drinking but not ourself. Ban smoking and drinking??
To much money in taxes there. We need to get real……..Eat make love and be happy…Ed
Comment by Ed Conklin — May 16, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Well I live in Montgomery Country and I think it’s great. I eat out a lot so it will be nice to know I won’t be eating all that crap anymore when I’m out. As for the people who say the gov. should not be the food police. Well why should I have to pay for their health problems down the road. People can eat what they like, I don’t care if they kill themselves but I shouldn’t have to contribute to the costs.
Comment by PatC — May 16, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
The government is really trying to protect the children, not you fat ass adults. We could care less if you die an early death. In fact, it would improve my chances of getting some form of social security. It’s the same as the government banning lead from toys. Is there really a need to allow parents the RIGHT to choose between a toxic and non-toxic toy for their children? Of course not, the general choice is obvious. But, would the children themselves know the difference of what to buy? No…the same toy could be made with no difference in fun factor.
Comment by Mike — May 16, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Let’s get something straight here. The money required to actually enforce this law could probably be put to better use educating people as to why they shouldn’t eat trans fats. As for those who are complaining that this law won’t let them get there hands on good fries, burgers, etc., trans fats are not natural in any way. You will not find any living creature producing a trans fat. If you think margarine is natural education on nutrition has failed. The fats being made trans are converted from their normal cis form (oil which is liquid at room temperature) to trans so that they are solid at room temperature. Anyway, just a fun fact, margarine is naturally white, but had yellow dye added to it in the 50s or 60s to make it seem more appealing.
Comment by Tim — May 16, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
I am totally in support of goverment disscions to ban trans fat for two reasons: We are adults with yong ones depending on us to make wise choice for us and for them.If we cannot make reasonable health choices for ourselves and for those that depemd on us;somebody has to make that disscions for us.
It might aswell be the goverment. When we voted for them;we expect them to protect us and this nation. We gave them the authority. Folks, there is no deadly enemy in this American rich country than “poor life style” Most diseases has their roots in what we eat.if we know how much it cost the taxpayers,goverments,employers etc to foot the unnecessary hospital bill due to poor food choices; then we will support the goverment to irradicate that enemy and face another. It is an enemy that has form an allied with us. We must the goverment. It is for our own good. “healthy people make a healthy nation”
How I long for the goverment to work on ciggrate smoking aswell.
Comment by Gina — May 16, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
OK People, Wake up! This is not about Trans Fats…Read between the lines. If the “Government is so concerned about “our health”", then they need to be consistent so that when they say they are concerned about our “health” it’s believable. Allow me to explain. Cars, how many peoples health is damaged each day in accidents on a daily basis ( why are they still allowed)? Alcohol, how many peoples health and other’s as a result of there drinking, affected negatively everyday (why is alcohol still sold)? Guns, knives, ropes (hanging) can have a deadly affect on your health, why are they still sold? Do ya’ll get my point here? The Government could care less about your health, what they DO care about is controlling us! Do the words socialism and communism come to mind? And to you animal rights and environmental wackos…you don’t like what we do in this country, there’s an airport I’m sure, near you, get on a plane to china or some other communistic country, or shut the f**k up and mind your own freaking business.
Comment by Mark — May 16, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Hey Gina,
First, you obviously are uneducated in more ways than one, your spelling is that of a 6th grader. 2nd, how I raise my children (I have 3) and what I choose to feed them is none of your or anyone else’s freaking business! If I want to feed them hamburger, that’s my business, not yours, not the governments, not the “health experts”, it’s my business and mine ONLY.
Gina:”somebody has to make that disscions for us.” I hope that you have no children and I pray that you never breed. You must have been educated by the government school system ( Public Cesspools). God help us! Please don’t have any children, please…Oh and if what I have said, “offends you”, tough, get over it.
Comment by Mark — May 16, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
How many of you howling about your loss of freedom to eat trans-fats can name _one_ food that requires them?
Not a _single_ _one_.
That’s because trans-fats didn’t exist in measurable quantities until we decided to see what happened if we tried to make a foamy mess out of vegetable oil and hydrogen gas.
Mmmmm! Hydrogen! The cornerstone of a balanced diet! (NOT!)
Hydrogen did TWO (and only two) useful things:
1 ) First, it thickened the oil. And we soon learned that by varying the amount of hydrogen we add we can make it simply thicker (partially-hydrogenated), or solid (hydrogenated). This is handy because a solid is easier to transport than a liquid.
2 ) We also soon realized that all the little bugs that by eating stuff, make it rot, find hydrogenated oils hard to stomach. This translates into a longer shelf life for foods made with hydrogenated oils.
And just like all the little bugs that spoil food find trans-fats hard to stomach, we do too. Except THEY (apparently unlike some people) have the sense God gave them, and AVOID eating hydrogenated oils. THAT’S why they take so long to rot / spoil. (You ever seen a can of Crisco with mold on it?? The fact MOLD won’t touch it should tell you something!)
If arsenic delayed spoilage would you demand that restaurants have the right to serve you food laced with it?
Of course, pre-made foods WILL cost more, but spoiled food is free.
If all you care about is the price of food, i.e. you don’t care how unhealthy the food is, there are dumpsters full of cheap (read FREE) food all around the country. Most of it probably still mostly edible. Have at it!
God, I wish people would try EDUCATING themselves about a subject before taking a freaking no-hold’s barred, “You’re a Nazi loving Commie!” attitude!
Stupid people a born that way, that’s their excuse.
Ignorant people just haven’t learned, but they can fix that.
But those of you who WON’T learn make me sick. And unjustified pride in your ignorance just proves that you’re wasting the most precious thing that God gave you: your brain.
If God hadn’t intended you to think and learn, he wouldn’t have wasted the space above your neck with a brain.
Comment by James — May 17, 2007 @ 5:01 am
How about pesticides and manure on foods? Do you think restaurants and bulk-food manufacturers should have to make sure that there isn’t any pesticides (poisons that insects are vulnerable to) or manure (in plain English: 5hit, Poo-Poo, crap) on your food?
Or do they have the right to make and serve food with that stuff on it?
I’m sure it’d cost less if they didn’t have to make sure your food was clean.
Comment by James — May 17, 2007 @ 5:12 am
Bolverk–”Allowing the consumers to know who is serving trans fats, so they can make an educated choice. This way, no one is forced into compliance.”
The info IS out there, you just have to search.
Comment by Eric — May 17, 2007 @ 7:33 am
I will make two points that none of you can dispute.
1.) Trans fats may cause pre-mature death, but this will not effect your health insurance like you think. Why? Because the most costly point in time for health care is when you are dying of old age. That’s right, a proven fact. The greatest burden and cost put on the health care system is by people who live to be old.
2.) Automobile accidents are the number one cause of death in this country. By your logic of protecting people from themselves, all automobiles should be banned. You should all have to take public transportation, no private vehicles should be allowed on the highways. Just based on your logic of saving people from themselves.
Comment by Bolverk — May 17, 2007 @ 10:51 am
“2 ) We also soon realized that all the little bugs that by eating stuff, make it rot, find hydrogenated oils hard to stomach. This translates into a longer shelf life for foods made with hydrogenated oils.
And just like all the little bugs that spoil food find trans-fats hard to stomach, we do too. Except THEY (apparently unlike some people) have the sense God gave them, and AVOID eating hydrogenated oils. THAT’S why they take so long to rot / spoil. (You ever seen a can of Crisco with mold on it?? The fact MOLD won’t touch it should tell you something!)”
I hate to burst your bubble, but the “little bugs” aren’t responsible for good fats gone bad. That would be rancidity caused by oxygen and light and sped up by heat. Mold won’t touch liquid oil either because micoorganisms require water to survive and oil and water don’t get along. Nice try, though! Maybe educate yourself before you become a fool.
–Food Techie again
Comment by Eric — May 17, 2007 @ 10:52 am
James, the whole point is not about the fact that trans fats are bad for you, duh…
The whole point is about government regulation. All regulation increases prices, period, end of story.
We can force the restaurants, food makers and others to comply with consumer demands without the government.
Using the brain god gave me, I understand that this is not about protecting anyones health, that is just how they present it. It is simply about control. If there is a demand for healthy, inexpensive food that can be made quickly, someone will fill that need. That is what is so nice about this country.
However, people like you prefer to use force, and make people comply with how YOU think THEY should live. And that alone is anti-American.
You want to be responsible for making people healthier? Open a fast food restaurant that serves food at inexpensive prices to the poor. Then you will be doing something positive. Enlisting the government to impose your beliefs on people is not a positive goal, it is counter productive and anti-American.
Comment by Bolverk — May 17, 2007 @ 11:02 am
There is a difference between regulating what people can eat and what people can sell. Most foods made with trans fats can be made with other oils as KFC has recently done nation wide.
Regulation such as city and county regulations are indeed the will of the at least a majority of people living in those areas. Or of officials elected by those people.
It surely is in direct opposition to individual liberty via capitalism.
The argument that seat-belts must be worn or trans fats must be replaced comes down to an issue intertwined with health care expenses that are paid by taxes. So peoples habits do have effect on other peoples wallets.
That is, in order for the majority to live well, even the minority must suffer regulations. ( I am not arguing that a true majority legislated these laws but they can have them overturned if they so desire).
If we should remove regulations like this, or not entertain them then we should also repeal drug laws and indeed all victimless crimes.
The broader knowledge in these regulations is that these habits do indeed effect other people.
To fix the situation we could remove all social healthcare programs and allow people to ingest whatever they please.
That means no emergency rooms for people without insurance, no health care for children of poverty etc…
Certainly these are not the only issues involved (and are somewhat exaggerated) but I think they begin to illustrate what a broad spectrum of issues are intertwined in social regulations.
I think it is important to look at the larger picture and the broad scope of interconnectivity between peoples instead of declaring either socialist or individualist philosophies as supercedent truths.
What this country needs therefore the very most is a return to rock solid education in the basics of language, math, history and science and questioning and reasoning skills.
Most arguments here have seemed very narrow ‘one way or the other’ viewpoints that do not really take into account a world of factors.
Luckily many posts also show a great deal of thought.
Comment by Jesse — May 17, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Bolverk,
Comment by Bolverk
> You want to be responsible for making people healthier?
No. When did I say I want to make people healthier? What makes you ASSume I give a crap about YOUR health? I care about MY health!
I don’t care if you or anyone else uses motor oil on your own food. Go for it! Use weed killer for all I care! Use anything you want on your own food (just don’t Jim Jones anybody else in the process… Mmmmm! Trust me, the cool-aid is GOOD)!
But when YOU and YOUR ANTI-AMERICAN ILK think YOU have the right to FORCE ME to eat anything I don’t want to, YOU’VE got got another thing comming!
Comment by Bolverk
> James, the whole point is not about the fact that trans
> fats are bad for you, duh…
>
Good, I’m glad that we both agree that you are in favor of making irrational decisions for yourself.
As is your right.
Just don’t make them for ME!
Comment by Bolverk
> regulation increases prices, period, end of story.
Very good, you get an A+ in 5th grade economics.
And CONGRADULATIONS! You managed to repeat what I said about costs! Yaaaah!
Refrigeration costs $$, vacuum sealing costs $$, making your staff wash their hands costs $$, all that raises the price of food! So what? If cost is king, then using your logic, all that should be optional! But it’s NOT! It’s MANDATED! And WHY? Because we’ve learned that corporations will try to get by with anything they can to make a buck! Slavery, murder, piracy! They all had to be outlawed because there will always be someone who believes that if it’s not illegal, it’s not wrong!
If you TRUELY feel that way, where’s your moral outrage about the laws forcing food prep staff to wash their hands after using the restroom? “Damn government making my cook wash after wiping! That just puts hair on your chest!”
You seem to believe that any underhanded, dishonest, and unethical trick should be legal. That ‘the market’ is the only legitimate method of making legal, ethical, and economic decisions. And if you can trick the market, that all is as it should be.
Luckily our founding fathers disagreed with you, and saw fit to put limits on the powers of corporations.
People have a RIGHT to make the assumption that a product is as advertised, and when they go out to eat that the food they are eating is ACTUALLY FOOD, and not some poisonous INDUSTRIAL BY-PRODUCT.
Comment by Bolverk
> Enlisting the government to impose your beliefs on people
> is not a positive goal, it is counter productive and
> anti-American.
I couldn’t agree more.
So stop trying to legalize the addition of poisons into my food supply. Then your political and economic views will be in alignment.
Trans-fats are a poison. Not only that, but they are a CUMULATIVE poison! They DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SYSTEM.
We didn’t know that they were a poison before, but science has progressed, and now we do. That’s the nice thing about knowledge, keep your mind open, keep asking questions, and you can get wiser as you get older. Keep it closed, and you never stop being ignorant.
As far as controlling people’s lives, and making them live the way you want them, I don’t suppose you never noticed that the world someone sees says more about THEMSELVES than it says about anybody else.
Check that big fat log in your eye first, bud.
Food Techie again:
> I hate to burst your bubble, but the “little bugs” aren’t responsible for
> good fats gone bad. That would be rancidity caused by oxygen and light
> and sped up by heat. Mold won’t touch liquid oil either because micoorganisms
> require water to survive and oil and water don’t get along. Nice try, though!
> Maybe educate yourself before you become a fool.
Can’t speak to that, but why don’t you do a little experiment:
Put a stick of butter and a stick of margarine or Crisco on the sidewalk by your house, wait and see which one nature has cleans up, and which one nature has left alone.
Dogs, cats, bugs, birds and/or whatever will eat up that butter, but will not touch the hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Mmmmm! Good Eats!
Comment by Bolverk:
> 1.) Trans fats may cause pre-mature death, but this will not effect your
> health insurance like you think. Why? Because the most costly point in
> time for health care is when you are dying of old age. That’s right, a
> proven fact. The greatest burden and cost put on the health care system
> is by people who live to be old.
Don’t care! (Don’t get me wrong, I disagree, but it’s irrelevant to my argument. Have you forgotten trickle-down economics? That a rising tide raises all boats? Etc etc? My argument is not an economic one, just pausing to knock down this straw-man.)
But again, you seem to think that $$ is God! It’s the end-all and be-all of ALL your arguments! Stop worshiping at the alter of the all-mighty $$$! Look beyond that idol and see the people you want to impose your views on.
Why does money give YOU the right to tell ME what I have to eat if I choose to eat out?
Why do you believe that money gives you the right to say I MUST EAT POISEN if I choose to eat out?
Comment by Bolverk:
> 2.) Automobile accidents are the number one cause of death in this country.
> By your logic of protecting people from themselves, all automobiles should
> be banned. You should all have to take public transportation, no private
> vehicles should be allowed on the highways. Just based on your logic of
> saving people from themselves.
I think this is silly, but I will try to explain to you the differences between an automobile and a meal.
1) You do not eat an automobile. (Unless you are the Klinger character on MASH) *ha ha ha, that was a funny*
2) Common sense tells you that automobiles are intrinsically dangerous. You can see they are large and heavy, and travel at high speeds. While it is true that you expose involuntarily those around you to the danger of your automobile when you drive one, we as a society have chosen to accept that the benefits of the automobile to society as a whole outweighs their drawbacks.
Before cars, the horse (and horse and carriage) were also dangerous. And also obviously so, the car was viewed as an upgrade to current technology.
3) There is no natural, common-sense assumption that a meal is dangerous. In fact, the opposite is true: There is a natural, common-sense assumption that a meal IS GOOD for you!
That means that it is unreasonable to expect the consumer to assume that something presented to him or her as FOOD is in fact poisonous.
I was going to ignore Mark, but I think he very suscinctly argues the point that most pro-trans-fat people want to make. They certianlly keep dancing around it:
> The Government could care less about your health, what they DO care about is
> controlling us! Do the words socialism and communism come to mind?
The problem is that when they put it in such plain English, it just sounds so Una-Bomber of them it makes you wonder how they get the Internet up in their un-wired, electricity free, Montana cabin. (Not to disparage Montanans. Just their bad luck.)
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/05/01/unabomber.cabin.reut/index.html
And THAT’S all I’m gonna say about THAT.
But let’s take a look at some of the horrors of the dread regulation you fear:
===================================================
How about lead water pipes? In 1986 the US government outlawed the use of lead pipes to carry drinking water, something still used DISPITE the fact that the effects of lead poisoning had been known for well over 200 years!
http://www.engr.uga.edu/service/extension/publications/c819-14c.html
In fact in 1786 Benjamin Franklin wrote that the dangers of lead had been known for at least 60 years, yet “you will observe with Concern how long a useful Truth may be known, and exist, before it is generally receiv’d and practis’d on.”
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1451228
==
How about lead in paint? Do you believe that manufacturers should be allowed to add lead to paint? Lead paint was outlawed here in the states in 1978.
==
How about lead solder in water pipes? That was outlawed in 1988.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wsg/wsg_H19.pdf
==
Oh, lead solder used to be used to solder the lids of cans on, perhaps that practice should be resumed?
==
Hmm. Let’s ignore lead, and look at some of the other evil stuff regulation has done:
After the use of coal burning stoves was outlawed within the city limits of London, their famous ‘Pea-Soup’ fog disappeared.
==
Between 1930 and 1960 the Chisso Corp of Japan dumped and estimated 27 tons of mercury into the ocean, DISPITE it’s illegality. It was not until 52 people from the village of Minamata died and over 100 more became seriously ill that public pressure (not economic) finally caused the government to clamp down on Chisso, and stop the process. Birth defects continue to cripple the children of the village to this day.
http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih2/chemicals/guide/pdfs/NIH_environment.pdf
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/member/member.html?nn20041016a2.htm
==
In the pre-dawn hours of the December 3rd, 1984 morning, an explosion in the Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India, sprayed the pesticide methyl-isocyanate onto the sleeping residents of the city Bhopal. By dawn, the released pesticides had killed 5 thousand people and injured more than half a million. Today thousands are still sick, and more than 50,000 are disabled due to their injuries. This is a disaster that could have been avoided, IF the company would have followed the laws and regulations they would be required to follow in the U.S.. But they had moved to India SPECIFICLY TO AVOID those regulations, and you see the results. ( BTW, the abandoned factory remains today largely as it was left the day the Union Carbide employees fled for their lives, sacks of pesticides left where they fell in the store-rooms and grounds, leaking into the local groundwater. )
http://www.india-seminar.com/2004/544/544%20gary%20cohen.htm
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/vwResourcesByFilename/97report.pdf/$File/97report.pdf
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/CeppoWeb.nsf/vwResourcesByFilename/incenAss.PDF/$File/incenAss.PDF
But I suppose that this is a vast conspiracy of the Indian residents of Bhopal, that they didn’t suffer, it’s just the largest workers-comp fraud in history. Right?
Or is it that 3M’s right to make money exceeds the right of the Bhopal residents to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
==
Mad Cow disease was caused by feeding cows the left-over slurry from slaughter houses, a cheap way to increase the protean content of cheap cattle feed. That’s been outlawed.
Interestingly, the current administration REFUSES to give beef exporters the right to test for mad cow. That is why Japan sill (I believe) bans American Beef! Why don’t the exporters have the right to test for anything they want?
==
Oh, the Chinese practice of putting Melamine (a mineral found in slag left over from coal mining) into low quality wheat flower to, again, artificially (and fraudulently) raise the rated protean content:
Menu Foods (the US Importer) was NOT going to report the contamination, or recall their product even though they were aware of the deaths, but instead were simply stone-walling and refusing to admit a problem until IAMS informed them that IAMS would do a recall regardless of Menu Foods actions. Interestingly, the FDA also did not act until IAMS forced their hand by announcing their recall, the actions of a conscientious and moral company.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/229064/chinese_admit_adding_melamine_to_pet.html
Is it really ALL a conspiracy? When you get information from so many different sources that jive with each other? Or is it a conspiracy when you have to go back to your one or two ‘trusted sources’ to get the ‘real’ poop?
Sorry to burst YOUR bubble.
Comment by James — May 19, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
It’s a shame that we still allow smoking especially when everyone knows how bad it is for you and refuses to do anything about it.
Comment by It's a shame — May 21, 2007 @ 1:33 pm