New York City is currently considering a proposal that would bar cooks at any of the city's 24,600 restaurants from using ingredients containing any hydrogenated oils (trans fat).
(here's the full AP article)
This proposal comes 3 years after the city banned smoking in restaurants.
Interesting thought.... is the use of trans fat as bad as smoking?
My initial thought says that it's actually worse and we should move to ban the substance from use in all food service nationwide. At least with trans fats in packaged foods, the FDA has required that the content be labeled so consumers can make choices as to how much of this toxic fat they ingest. With food prepared by your local lunch vendor, or even your favorite "5 star" chef, you have no idea how much artery clogging hydrogenated fat may be included in your meal.
With smoking, you can see and smell the smoke, which you can avoid under almost any circumstance. The choice to smoke, or stay in an environment with cigarette smoke is your decision. When cities and states went to a ban on smoking in restaurants and other public places, I appreciated that it was easier to make the healthier choice of avoiding smoke filled situations. Yes, it did become inconvenient for smokers, but those who chose not to smoke were less likely to be effected by inadvertent consumption of cigarette smoke.
Everyone knows that cigarette smoke is bad for you health. If you choose not to smoke, it's easy to avoid.
Not very many people understand the dangers and health risks associated with the use of trans fats. Even worse, these toxic fats are hidden in many of your favorite foods.
I hate the idea of more regulations and additional restriction over the choices that we have in this great country. But in this case, it may actually be the right thing to do. As consumers of prepared foods, our experience will remain nearly the same and we will know that there is one less thing to worry about in terms of a healthier eating.
It would be nice to think that restaurateurs would make the change voluntarily, because it's the right thing to do for their consumers. If it needs to be regulated to make the change, then the inconvenience of the few will certainly be worth the health benefits to the masses.
I've decided. What do you think?
