A trans-fat-less Illinois in our future?

From Pioneer Press - A Chicago Sun-Times Publication

April 21, 2011

Every once in a while Illinois legislators come up with a good idea.

This time, the House has passed a bill that would ban the use of trans fats in restaurants, movie theaters, bakeries and cafes, as well as food sold in school vending machines.

If the Senate OKs the bill and Gov. Pat Quinn signs it, the law would take effect in 2013. Illinois would be only the second state (after California) to take such an action.

Whoa, slow down there, pardner, before you start raging about the government sticking its nose into your private business.

Believe me, you don't care a thing about trans fats

It isn't trans fats you love. No, it's french fries, and pizza and chocolate doughnuts.

None of these foods -- or any other foods -- depends on trans fats for their taste. Trans fast don't have taste and don't add taste.

Trans fat comes from adding hydrogen to vegetable oil by a process called hydrogenation. There's nothing gourmetical (is that a word?) about it.

Trans fats are created because they are more solid than oil. This makes trans fats less likely to spoil. So, using trans fats in manufacturing food gives food a longer shelf life. This means more profit for food manufacturers.

That would be fine, except that trans fats not only raise bad cholesterol (LDL), they lower good cholesterol (HDL). And this combo increases the risk of coronary heart disease, which is the leading killer of men and women.

The tragedy is that there is no necessity for taking this risk.

As I already said, trans fats add nothing to the taste of food. If it did, you could order a pizza with extra trans fat. Ever hear of that?

In addition, there are all kinds of oils and shortenings and cooking ingredients available that don't contain trans fat.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Yet, who knows, perhaps there is a trans fat lobby somewhere fighting the proposed Illinois law. I wouldn't be surprised.

Seems pretty clear, though, that from a consumer perspective: Get rid of trans fats.
Let's hope Illinois legislators continue their enlightened approach and that the bill becomes law.
I could go for a cheese danish right about now.

Couldn't you?