Mar, 2009 — Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living Sport, announced on March 7 that B.C. will be the first province to restrict trans fat in the country. Under the new rules, oils and products used to prepare food must not contain more than five per cent trans fat, while margarines must contain less than two per cent trans fat, by Sept. 30, 2009. The B.C. regulation is part of the province’s new Public Health Act, and follows the recommendations of Health Canada’s Trans Fat Task Force.

Aug, 2008 — The Albany County Health Department announced on Aug. 8, 2008 that the use of trans fat in local restaurants and food service establishments are not be allowed as of Jan. 2, 2009. On July 1, 2009, the law will begin to expand to include baked goods.

Fall, 2009 — City council passed ban on trans fat, expected to take effect in the fall of 2009.

March, 2008 — The city’s health commission voted to ban artery-clogging trans fat, and restaurants and cafeterias had a short window of time to stop using all oils and spreads that contain the dangerous food preserver, which started in Sept. 2008.
Sept, 2009 — Hospitals, schools and eateries will have until Sept. 2009 to make the transition.

Nov, 2008 — Ban enacted for fry oils on Nov. 30, 2008, and will begin for baked goods in April 2009.

Jan, 2008 — Ban enacted for fry oils in Jan. 2008, and baked goods began in Jan. 2009.

April, 2008 — Began for fry oils in April 2008, and will begin for baked goods in April 2009.

July, 2007 — Ban enacted for fry oils in July 2007, and began for baked goods in July 2008.

Sept, 2007 — Ban enacted for fry oils in Sept. 2007, and for baked goods in Sept. 2008.

July 2008 — Ban enacted July 1.

Feb, 2009 — Suffolk lawmakers delivered another punch to the gut of the national obesity epidemic by implementing a ban on trans fat and mandating calorie counts be prominently posted in chain restaurants. The measure to ban trans fat was passed unanimously by the Suffolk County Legislature on Feb. 3, while a separate bill mandating the calorie information be posted was passed 17-1. Suffolk also will soon require that calorie counts be posted all types of menus on restaurants with more than 15 locations throughout the county.

Jan, 2008 — The ban became part of the county’s Sanitary Code on January 9, 2008, but the Westchester County Health Department provided a 90-day grace period through April 9.

Jan, 2010 — First state to ban use of trans fat by restaurants on Jan. 1, 2010, and by bakeries one year later.

May 2008 — Began for fry oils in May 2008, and will begin for baked goods in Feb. 2009. The law will also require chain restaurants with more than ten national locations to display calorie, fat, sodium and carbohydrate information on menus.