I Am Sure Comrades Miller & Perks & The Politburo

will go along with this suggestion as they have just about reached the limit to how much they can suck out of our pockets through new taxes, fees, etc. so now they will start restricting our diets. When this whole issue came up a few years ago I predicted we would see the fatgestapo marching alongside of the nicotinegestapo. It is just another way of Comrade Miller repaying the city unions for their support by adding more staff to a bloated and overpaid bureaucracy.

Possible trans fats ban looms in Toronto
Updated Tue. Apr. 17 2007 3:20 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

There could soon be less trans fats on the menu for Torontonians, according to a newspaper report.

Toronto's board of health has asked Dr. David McKeown, the city's health officer, to recommend the best way to initiate a plan to phase out trans fats from restaurant menus, the Toronto Star reported.

Trans fats are found in fried food in fast food outlets and baked goods. They are formed when unsaturated fat is processed or hydrogenated.

A federal task force report delivered last year suggested imposing limits on the amounts of trans fats produced in foods.

It recommended limiting trans fats in vegetable oils and margarines to no more than two per cent of total fat, and no more than five per cent total fat in other foods. The report suggested that these restrictions should begin in June 2008, with a one-year phase-in period.

However, federal Health Minister Tony Clement has yet to respond to the recommendations and McKeown has indicated he would like to meet with Clement first to assess how the Conservative government plans to respond to the report.

In the meantime, McKeown has recommended that Toronto restaurants and food services outlets reduce their use of trans fats on a voluntary basis.

Despite these recommendations, it is possible Toronto could formulate and implement its own restrictions for early 2008.

"It wouldn't be an exact match of New York, but the basic idea would be the same,'' health board member and City Councillor Gord Perks told the Star.

Perks was referring to the ban on trans fats that will be coming into effect in New York City on July 1.

Attention to removing trans fats from restaurant menus is a growing concern in North America.

As well as the imminent ban in New York City, trans fats will be removed from restaurants in Philadelphia by the end of the year. Additionally, bills to restrict or ban trans fat in restaurants or school cafeterias have been introduced in at least 20 states.

With files from The Associated Press.