Boston latest in banning Trans Fats

Boston has joined New York and Philadelphia in banning the use of trans fats in the food served in restaurants and grocery stores in the city.

The city’s health commission has unanimously voted to ban the artery-clogging trans fats from restaurants and corner stores. The violators will have to pay up to $1000 in case they do not obey the rules.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said commission member Harold D. Cox.

The bill now needs the approval of Mayor Sheila Dixon for it to become a law. According to many people, she is herself in favor of the ban. So it is just a matter of time when this becomes a law.

The bill gives six months to the city businesses and restaurants for totally removing the oils that contain trans fats. Within a year, hospitals, schools and eateries will have to eliminate trans fats from baked goods and other products.

Prepackaged foods such as a bag of chips or cookies won't be included.

Trans fats are also known as partially hydrogenated oils and are used to extend a food's shelf life and enhance flavor. But, these have been linked to heart problems and have also been blamed for the growing obesity problem in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three U.S. adults is considered obese. This amounts out to well over 60 million U.S. adults.

“Boston has now stepped into a leadership role,” said Anne McHugh, who runs the health commission’s chronic disease prevention program.

“Trans fats are a significant source of heart disease, and heart disease is a leading cause of death,” she said.

Elaborating on the process Commission attorney, Fatema Fazendeiro, said that the voting came after a 90-day public comment period in which the commission received over 90 comments regarding the ban, of which only four opposed the ban. This is a huge number of people supporting the ban.

Preparing themselves for the situation, many Boston restaurants have already stopped using trans fats.

The American Heart Association suggests that people limit trans fats to less than 1 percent of daily caloric intake.