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US debates 'hidden' food fats ban US debates 'hidden' food fats ban
(about 2 hours later)
Public hearings to discuss a plan to ban an ingredient called trans fatty acids from restaurants across New York are expected to begin. New York City's plan for a near ban on an ingredient called trans-fatty acids in restaurants has received widespread support at a hearing.
The US city's health department says trans-fats are a serious health hazard. Most speakers - including nutritionists and doctors - supported the move, saying trans-fats were a health hazard.
For years health officials in New York have identified trans-fats as a food ingredient which can clog arteries and cause serious health problems. New York health officials have for years warned that the fats can clog arteries and cause obesity.
Some restaurateurs will argue that a ban would be expensive to enforce and insist consumers should have a choice. However some restaurateurs say the ban would be expensive to enforce and insist consumers should have a choice.
Informed choice New York's Board of Health is expected to vote in December on the proposal.
The hearing came as Kentucky Fried Chicken announced it would stop using trans-fats for most of its products from next April.
'Potato Head'
For more than a year there has been a voluntary programme for the city's 20,000 restaurants and fast food outlets to remove trans-fats from the food they serve.For more than a year there has been a voluntary programme for the city's 20,000 restaurants and fast food outlets to remove trans-fats from the food they serve.
TRANS-FATS They are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, turning oily foods into semi-solid foodsUsed to extend shelf life of productsPut into pastries, cakes, margarine and some fast foodsCan raise levels of "bad" cholesterolEven a small reduction in consumption can cut heart diseaseThey have no nutritional benefit TRANS-FATS They are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, turning oily foods into semi-solid foodsUsed to extend shelf life of productsPut into pastries, cakes, margarine and some fast foodsCan raise levels of "bad" cholesterolEven a small reduction in consumption can cut heart diseaseThey have no nutritional benefit href="/1/hi/health/6100836.stm" class="">KFC cuts out clogging fats
Clearly that has not been as successful as was hoped and now there is to be a series of public hearings to discuss a proposed new law which would ban all but the most minute traces of trans-fats from New York's menus. The BBC's Jeremy Cooke in New York says this has not been as successful as was hoped.
The city's health commissioner, Thomas Frieden, says that trans-fats are invisible and dangerous and once they are gone they would not be missed. A series of public hearings is due to discuss the proposed law, which would ban all but the most minute traces of trans-fats from New York's menus.
In a separate initiative, his department is also recommending that the calorie content of each item on a menu should be printed alongside it.In a separate initiative, his department is also recommending that the calorie content of each item on a menu should be printed alongside it.
Officials say that many New Yorkers get at least a third of their calories from food eaten outside the home and they should be making a more informed choice about what they consume. Officials say that many New Yorkers get at least a third of their calories from food eaten outside the home and the move is designed to help them make an informed choice about what they consume.
The proposals were supported by most of those who attended Monday's hearing.
"We're all starting to look like Mr Potato Head," said Howard Weintraub of New York University Medical Center.
However representatives of the food industry spoke against the proposal.
An attorney for Wendy's hamburger chain said the calorie content rule would discriminate against minority restaurants.