Chicago follows New York City’s lead on Trans fats
New York City is seriously considering legislation that would ban the food chain enemy, trans fats. Denmark successfully implemented such a ban several years ago. Trans fats have been linked to greater risk of cardiovascular disease in studies. Trans fats, often, used for frying and baking are among the worst things you can consume as they contain both large amounts of calories and a tendency to increase your bad chloresterol and reduce your good chloresterol.
This Chicago Tribune article details the steps being taken by the city government to force fast food restaurants to label their products clearly if they contain trans fats. Excellent idea. The proposal also limits use of trans fats in restaurants over a certain size (in sales.)
According to the article,'"Trans fat is the most harmful fat there is," Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told the committee. Some restaurants already have begun to move to cooking oils that do not contain it, he said, quoting a study attributing 50,000 heart attacks a year to the substance."