For heart health, the Big Apple will go trans-fat free by next June.

New York City became the first major metropolis Tuesday to ban the artery-clogging substance from restaurants – a move that could set up a domino effect throughout the country.

Under a proposal from the health board, the city’s 24,000 restaurants and the famous street vendors must do away with most oils with trans fatty acids by June 2007 in a move health officials say will help get rid of the culprit for high cholesterol, heart attacks, strokes and other conditions. They’ll have another year to eliminate them from all foods.

As in the words of the New York Times, the move affects restaurants from McDonald’s to fashionable bistros to Chinese take-outs.

To read the city’s statement on the action, visit the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  The board also is requiring restaurants to display on menu boards or near the cash registers the calorie count of all of their foods.

“Restaurants are a major source of artificial trans fat, but customers currently have no practical way to know whether food they eat contains it,” health board members said, in a statement. “Today, the New York City Board of Health voted unanimously to make New York City even healthier.”

'Slow form of poison'

Trans fat occurs when hydrogen is injected into vegetable oil to give it more shelf life and make products tastier. The “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” is used to make everything from cookies and crackers to pancakes and pizza – and just about any processed food you can put in your mouth.

“It’s basically a slow form of poison,” said David Katz, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center.

Tim Zagat, founder of the popular Zagat Survey, a restaurant review and rating service, said restaurant owners should pay attention to what’s happening in New York. City leaders in Chicago and Louisville, Ky., already are considering similar moves, while Denmark has banned trans fat throughout the entire country.

“If I were a restaurant, I would comply as quickly as I possibly could,” he said. “Some fast-food chains are in the middle of the railroad track right now. They’d better rethink their business models. This is the next big issue in the United States.”

Differing opinions 

Groups already are issuing statements for and against the ban. Experts say eliminating trans fats need not change the taste of foods, but chefs and restaurant owners say replicating the taste and texture of some items without trans fat will prove hard.

Officials with the American Diabetes Association said it “applauds” the health board’s decision.

“Passage of this proposal is especially relevant to people with diabetes who are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke,” said Dr. Peter Sheehan, president of the American Diabetes Association’s New York City Leadership Council, in a statement. “Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes- related deaths. Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four times higher than adults without diabetes.

“Our nation is facing an epidemic of diabetes and when you consider that many American adults – and their children – are eating out several times a week, it is even more difficult to avoid trans fats and maintain a healthy diet.”

But leaders with the National Restaurant Association lambasted the ruling. They contend that many restaurants, such as the fast-food chain Wendy’s, already are removing trans fat from their offerings and more eateries are working on the matter.

“Today’s decision by the Board of Health shows an ignorance of the challenges New York's 24,000 restaurants will face in trying to eliminate trans fat and may well take a step backward for public health,” association officials said, in a statement.  “The challenges and unintended consequences of the proposal to ban trans fat in the time-span of six to 18 months in New York City is unworkable.

"This is a farm-to-table issue. It takes time to develop, plant, grow, harvest and process new alternative crops and to test new oils.”

For more information

•  Revealing Trans Fat

•  American Heart Association

This article includes information from the New York Times.

Source: New York City Board of Health and Mental Hygiene

This summary by Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., is a snapshot of larger, more detailed studies and/or research projects. Nubella News encourages all site visitors and readers interested in understanding the material contained within this article at a more detailed level, to perform additional research and investigation into the article topics, references, and any links provided within the material. Nubella News does not intend to offer medical advice. We recommend that all readers ask their doctor or medical professional for additional advice, guidance, and/or recommendations pertaining to this article.