Governments Ban Trans Fat
Today, legislators are taking action against trans fat. From the state of California to New York City, public health officials and legislators have taken action to ban these harmful substances from our restaurant plates.
Arizona
Pima County, Az (Tucson)
A proposed county resolution in Pima County calls for restaurants and other food-service businesses to reduce their use of artificial trans fats. On November 3, the county Board of Supervisors discussed asking restaurateurs to voluntarily reduce their use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, a primary source of the bad fats.
Canada
Calgary, Canada
Calgary's trans fat ban in restaurants dissolved with the merger of Alberta's regional health authorities.
British Columbia, Canada
As of September 30, 2009, all BC food service establishments are required to meet the following restrictions for industrially produced trans fat: two percent or less trans fat of total fat content of oils and soft, spreadable margarines and five percent trans fat of total fat content of all other foods. For more information visit www.restricttransfat.ca or call 8‑1‑1 in BC to speak to a HealthLink BC dietitian. Businesses with offices outside BC that distribute products to BC restaurants can reach Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC by calling 1-604-215-8110.
Manitoba, Canada
The Manitoba provincial government passed legislation to ban the sale of foods containing high levels of trans fat in both elementary and secondary schools.
Nunavik, Canada
The Nunavik Nutrition and Health Committee has adopted a resolution to improve the quality of foods sold in Nunavik and to actively reduce the trans-fat content of foods sold in the region.
California
State of California
A bill banning trans fat received passage from the Governor, and will ban use of trans fats in restaurants on Jan. 1, 2010, and by bakeries one year later.
Los Angeles, Calif.
To be certified as trans fat free, a restaurant must apply to the Department of Public Health and pay a fee of $204. An unannounced inspection will then be conducted to confirm that cooking ingredients are trans fat free and that no oils, including margarine or shortening, are being served or stored that contain more than 0.5 grams of trans fats per serving. A list of certified restaurants will be publicized on the Web site www.lapublichealth.org.
Orange County, Calif.
November 2009 - The Orange County government is considering adopting a local law requiring larger restaurants to post calories. The committee is also considering another alternative proposal that requires restaurants to show calories, sugar content, sodium content, trans fat and saturated fat.
San Francisco, Calif.
As of July 2008, San Francisco restaurant owners who prove they serve nothing containing trans fats will get bragging rights after purchasing a decal with a green heart emblazoned with a silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge and the words "Trans Fat Free San Francisco Restaurant."
Tiburon, Calif.
All 18 restaurants in Tiburon now use trans fat free cooking oil as an outcome of "Project Tiburon," which is a proactive movement to eliminate trans fat from each of the eateries.
Connecticut
State of Connecticut
In October 2006, legislation was introduced that would require the ban of prepared food made with trans fat oil from food service establishments in 2008. This legislation was never passed.
Stamford, Conn.
A ban on trans fat took effect July 1, 2009.
Florida
State of Florida
A bill requiring restaurants to post signs alerting customers on the dangers of consuming trans fats was workshopped by the House Business Regulation Committee.
City of Miami, Fla.
In Feb. 2007, the Miami-Dade County Commission began considered a ban in schools, prisons and restaurants, and although it received a lot of national attention, legislation was not passed.
Hawaii
State of Hawaii
A proposed ban to prohibit trans fats in menu items and foodservice establishments has been deferred.
Illinois
State of Illinois schools
Illinois' bill would require the State Board of Education to eliminate cafeteria food cooked with vegetable oils containing trans fats by July 2009. A decision is pending.
Chicago, Ill.
The city has considered an ordinance that may restrict the use of trans fats in chain fast-food restaurants, but it never passed vote at the city council level.
Kentucky
Louisville, Ky.
February 23, 2009 - The city's Department of Public Health & Wellness is starting an education campaign including a Web site, fact sheets and surveys for consumers and businesses. It also will hold public hearings before it makes a recommendation on whether to ban trans fats in food preparation at restaurants, cafes and bars.
Maine
State of Maine
The Maine legislature has a proposed ban on trans fat. A decision is pending.
Maryland
State of Maryland
HB 567 would require restaurants to phase out partially hydrogenated oil by October 2010. A decision is pending.
Montgomery County, Md.
A ban on trans fat was enacted for fry oils in January 2008 and baked goods in January 2009.
Baltimore, Md.
The city council passed ban on trans fat, which went into effect on September 20, 2009. All city food establishments are prohibited from serving and selling foods, which are not prepackaged, that contain 0.5 grams or greater of trans fat.
Massachusetts
State of Massachusetts
The Department of Public Health is considering statewide ban on trans fats to help control rising obesity rates.
Boston, Mass.
As of September 13, 2009, hospitals, schools and eateries in Boston cannot use artery-clogging artificial trans fat.
Brookline, Mass.
A trans fat ban began for fry oils on Nov. 30, 2008, and for baked goods in April 2009.
Cambridge, Mass.
The city is encouraging restaurants to voluntarily eliminate trans fats. The initial phase of the ban on artificial trans fat use in Cambridge food service establishments took effect July 1, 2009; the ban went into full effect on Oct. 1, 2009.
Needham, Mass.
March 10, 2009 - The Needham Board of Health passed legislation saying restaurants that store, use or serve any food item containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, shortening or margarine, must only use products that contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. This rule applies even to oils or shortenings used in baking and/or deep-frying. Bakeries will be included in this phase. The regulation does not apply to retail food served in the manufacturer's original, sealed packaging, such as a package of crackers or a bag of potato chips, which is properly labeled.
Michigan
State of Michigan
The state considered a ban, but it did not receive support among consumers, and was dropped.
Oakland County, Mich.
A proposal to ban trans fats from restaurants by 2008 was withdrawn due to lack of support.
Minnesota
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
In January 2009, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul wrote ordinances to ban the use of trans fats in restaurants. Approval is pending.
Mississippi
State of Mississippi
Discussions have been held around plans to introduce a bill banning trans fat during the 2009 legislative session.
Missouri
State of Missouri
A bill that would have prohibited artificial trans fat in all school foods, including food sold in vending machines, was tabled in 2007.
New Hampshire
State of New Hampshire
The House completely altered an original bill, which would have prohibited the use of artificial trans fats, to a bill that would direct school districts to look at alternatives to trans fats in their cafeterias. The bill in now being debated in the state Senate.
New Jersey
State of New Jersey
Discussions were held around plans to introduce a bill banning trans fat during the 2006 legislative session.
New Mexico
State of New Mexico
Legislation has been tabled that would require restaurants (3 or more locations in the state) to post nutrition information, and would limit the amount of trans fat per serving to one-half gram.
New York
State of New York
December 17, 2009 - Governor David Paterson proposed a bill to ban trans fats in restaurants and other food service establishments in April 2009. A final decision is pending.
Albany County, N.Y.
July 1, 2009 - The Albany County Health Department announced that the use of trans fats in baked goods was not allowed. Bakers in Albany County tried to repeal the decision, but were turned-down in June 2009. The County's health department has given the bakeries a 6-month period to try to find suitable replacement shortenings.
Broome County, N.Y.
December 17, 2009 - Broome legislators passed the trans-fat ban for the county. The measure is awaiting approval by the state and its health department before it goes into effect.
Dutchess County, N.Y.
Though county legislature approved a proposal that would ban trans fat in county restaurants, they later reversed the decision. They instead chose that the county Department of Health Web site should list those restaurants that do not use oils containing artificial trans fat.
Nassau County, N.Y.
A trans fat ban began for fry oils in April 2008 and began for baked goods in April 2009.
New York City
A trans fat ban began for fry oils in July 2007 and began for baked goods in July 2008.
Suffolk County, N.Y.
A ban on trans fat was passed in February 2009 by Suffolk County Legislature.
Westchester County, N.Y.
The trans fat ban became part of the county's Sanitary Code on January 9, 2008, and went into full effect on April 9, 2008.
Ohio
State of Ohio
December 16, 2009 - Lawmakers voted to restrict schools from offering students high-calorie snacks and drinks in vending machines or school stores. Food items sold to students would have to meet nutritional guidelines, such as having no trans fat.
Cleveland, Ohio
A resolution has been passed by Cleveland's City Council encouraging the ban of trans fats. The resolution is not a law.
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pa.
A trans fat ban was enacted for fry oils in September 2007 and for baked goods in September 2008.
Rhode Island
State of Rhode Island
A bill requiring the Department of Health to educate consumers and restaurants on trans fats has been proposed, after the original ban was dropped. The new bill encourages restaurants to voluntarily phase-out trans fats. A decision is pending.
South Carolina
State of South Carolina
A bill was proposed that would take effect 90 days after approval by the Governor, and would prohibit restaurants and food establishments from serving or providing food containing trans fats, but has since been tabled.
Tennessee
State of Tennessee
Legislation that would prohibit the use of trans fats was deferred by lawmakers on the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee. After being heard in the committee, it was deferred, and a decision is pending.
Nashville, Tenn.
In 2008, an anonymous survey of Nashville restaurants revealed that 18 percent of area eateries still use trans fats.
Texas
State of Texas
The trans fat ban legislation, proposed in March 2009, passed the Texas State Senate, but did not pass the house during the spring 2009 session.
Vermont
State of Vermont
A bill that would have required the ban of the use of artificial trans fat at food service establishments in Vermont beginning July 1, 2007, was tabled.
Virginia
State of Virginia
A bill to gradually eliminate foods containing trans fats was rejected by the legislature.
Washington
State of Washington
The state considered a ban on trans fat in 2007, but chose not to pursue it.
King County, Wash. (Seattle)
A ban on trans fat began for fry oils in May 2008, and for baked goods in February 2009.
Multnomah County, Wash.
County commissioners briefly discussed developing legislation on a trans fat ban, but it was dropped.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
In February 2009, a bill was introduced to ban artificial trans fats, but a decision is pending.
