Restaurants Need to Lose Weight
Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's top doc, is urging Toronto eateries to reduce the use of trans fats in their food.
As part of a planned report to the city's board of health, McKeown is asking for new rules that would limit the use of deadly trans fats to less than 2% of any dish. The new rules would be implemented by 2008.
The announcement was also joined by the Heart and Stroke Foundation's request for the federal government to follow up on recommendations made by a federal task force that examined the situation last year.
While this announcement stops short of advocating a NYC-style total ban on trans fats, he states that the federal government will have to be involved in order to kick start the changes needed. It is hoped that Health Minister Tony Clement and city officials can meet to see how the feds feel about the change.
The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association has also pledged its support for the plan.
blogTO flickr pool photo byJen Chan
Comments (3)
This is interesting news. After skimming through the CRFA's guide to reducing trans fats (available on their website), it seems that they are targeting trans fats occurring from processing, rather than going after even the naturally occuring trans fats in meat and dairy, which is a topic of debate in the NYC trans fat ban - see this article - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/dining/07tran.html?ex=1333598400&en=3ae779817b8842c9&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink.
It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. Thanks for the post.
I am so happy to hear more about getting rid of trans fats in restaurants. This is a real problem as we do not know what we are getting when we eat out.
Then don't eat out.
If your dietary concerns are such that having some trans-fats is unacceptable then you shouldn't eat in your average restaurant. Go to one that chooses to cater to your needs. It's the same issue as someone with a severe nut allergy going to a Thai restaurant and expecting a sterile, peanut-free meal. It is the allergy-afflicted diner’s responsibility to take it into their own hands and only eat at places they know are safe for them.
Of course, if people only patronize restaurants that offer trans-fat free food then it's likely all restaurants will voluntarily follow suit. But to expect to legislate a legitimate foodstuff out of restaurants because of a few new studies is absurd.
Don't forget that over twenty years ago, saturated fats were demonized in much the same way. Unsaturated fats and fatty acids have been attacked since (admittedly less severely). I don't think I need to point out any specific fanfare about olive oil, lauric acid, and Omega 3 that has taken the place of all the nay-saying to illustrate that even the most thorough study isn't finite.
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