Jan 22, 2008 5:42 pm US/Eastern
Maryland Considers Trans Fat Study
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ―
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A trans fat ban has already taken effect in Montgomery County.
CBS
Artificial trans fats are up for consideration this week in the Maryland legislature, as a House committee prepares to consider setting up a study to decide whether trans fats should be banned in restaurants.
Pat Warren reports bill sponsors say it's all about health.
Half a million Americans die every year from coronary heart disease and according to the Food and Drug Administration one of the leading causes is trans fats.
The sizzling debate in Annapolis is whether governments should force restaurants to stop serving food made with unhealthy trans fats.
Trans fats are found in fried foods and some baked goods. They can cause coronary heart disease, which will raise the bad cholesterol and lower the good cholesterol.
Delegate James Hubbard's bill would create a task force that would look into a statewide ban.
"The issue is do we want to save pennies and take people's lives or do we want to make a transition to something that's a little better in the long term," said Delegate Hubbard.
Montgomery County became the first county in the nation to ban trans fats. New York City and Philadelphia also have bans, but some restaurants have told
Eyewitness News this should not be legislated.
"I do not need government pushing things down our throat. Once you start to dictate, what's next...banning liquor?" said one opposer.
The Restaurant Association is opposed to an outright ban, but has no problem with restaurants voluntarily pulling trans fats.
Starbucks, Phillips Seafood and KFC are among the trans fat free.
Several states are considering forcing restaurants to list what they serve, including trans fats. As of two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration required trans fats to be listed on all food labels.
This particular task force bill in Maryland is a long way off from getting a vote. There's still not even a Senate version.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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