New York City health officials ban trans-fats in restaurants

New York City health officials have voted to ban unhealthy trans-fats from use in the city’s restaurants.

The city’s Board of Health came to a unanimous decision to ban the fats, which it had warned for years cause obesity and lead to heart disease.

The decision makes New York the first city in the USA to ban the fats and restaurants have until 1 July 2008 to eliminate them from their kitchens.

Trans-fats are made when food processors harden fat to make it more like butter. They go into partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is commonly used for frying and baking, or are put into processed foods.

There has been a voluntary programme for New York restaurants and fast-food outlets to remove trans-fats from the food they serve for more than one year.

A number of US restaurant chains, including McDonald's and KFC, have been experimenting with replacements for oils and foods that contain trans-fats.

Chicago is also considering a law that would restrict use of trans-fats in large restaurants.

McDonald's to reduce the amount of trans fats in its products >>

KFC to ban trans fats from products next year >>

New York  State Department of Health >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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