New York City bans trans-fats in restaurants

[Russell Kanning]

Can you imagine thousands of restaurants just outside the city limits? Neither can I. These guys will either throw off their chains or suffer. If you live in Manhattan, you can't just drive to the edge of the city to get a meal.

[error]

Well, you could if you had a car, which millions of people there don't.

One thing I think a lot of people have overlooked is the impact this will have on the poor, when prices of restaurant food in NYC, already obnoxiously high, go up even further.

[cathleeninnh]

My sister is a big supporter of the smoking ban in Ohio.  She sees it as a health issue, I as a property rights issue.  She likes organic foods.  I pointed out that organic foods, particularly meats are more likely to have some harmful bacteria than meat given antibiotics. 

Toxins, bacteria, trans fat, carcinogens...

I want to make my own call on how to kill myself. Wait, I can't be allowed to do that either. I can only die when and in a manner decided by others. At least it will be paid for by others as well. Cradle to grave...

Cathleen

[JonM]

If the city banned rat poison from food, would you open up a restaurant that served rat poison flavored food?  Trans-fats aren't something that makes food taste better, they're a manufacturing by-product that enable people to make food cheaper and last longer.  For restaurants it basically means they can re-use their fry oil longer.  Given that trans-fats lower your good cholesterol while raising your bad, are you willing to trade your health for their bottom line?  You may notice many products no longer sport partially hydrogenated fats, but have palm oil instead.  Such is the way of consumer demand. 

It would be better if people stood up and said they would prefer not to consume trans-fats, but the sheep need their shepherds in New York City.  I noticed Bickfords in Manchester had little placards declaring they went trans-fat free.  And to think, no law was required.

[lordmetroid]

My sister is a big supporter of the smoking ban in Ohio.  She sees it as a health issue, I as a property rights issue.  She likes organic foods.  I pointed out that organic foods, particularly meats are more likely to have some harmful bacteria than meat given antibiotics.  I then chanted like an evil madman, "today transfats, tommorrow, the organics hahahahaha."   
Most in the NY city will simply roll their eyes and move on. 

Having antibiotics in meat is not at all good. Because bacteria will evolve resistance and if you do use antibiotics on a grand scale more and more resistive bacteria will evolve. I don't know what's it called in english but there is bacteria that is resistent to all kinds of antibiotics and is usually found at hospitals leading to a total quarantine to limit the damage. Using antibiotics in meat is the worst you Americans do to our health.

[David]

I agree with you lordmetroid, but I try to point out one persons pet issue that could easily made illigal.  Such as spinach that could be contaminated.  A gov't powerful enough to take one away, is powerful enough to take anything away.  NYC is full of people that have always lived in a culture of legitimized, legal force.  I'm not too surprized that more agregous uses of force continually come from there. 

[aries]

they know where to find us.

Or do they? Do we have any FSP'ers in the city? The place is full of fliers... what could a few more hurt

[aries]

Can you imagine thousands of restaurants just outside the city limits? Neither can I. These guys will either throw off their chains or suffer. If you live in Manhattan, you can't just drive to the edge of the city to get a meal.

Well for one thing it's sealed off by water on all sides except the north... and it's pretty tall. Most new yorkers dont drive everywhere as parking is scarce, gas is expensive and hard to find (expect long waits..). Long story short, driving 15 miles to leave the city is like asking someone from Keene to drive to Laconia to avoid a ban.

edit: sorry I realize I was only talking about Manhattan/Bronx

[error]

Well for one thing it's sealed off by water on all sides except the north... and it's pretty tall. Most new yorkers dont drive everywhere as parking is scarce, gas is expensive and hard to find (expect long waits..). Long story short, driving 15 miles to leave the city is like asking someone from Keene to drive to Laconia to avoid a ban.

On the other hand, there are all kinds of federal tax subsidized mass transportation options for getting out of NYC, such as PATH (to get to New Jersey), the Long Island Railroad, and Metro-North, all of which can have you out of the city in a few minutes.

I wonder if people would pay the fare for mass transportation if they actually had to pay the full price.

[maineiac]

If the city banned rat poison from food, would you open up a restaurant that served rat poison flavored food?  Trans-fats aren't something that makes food taste better, they're a manufacturing by-product that enable people to make food cheaper and last longer.  For restaurants it basically means they can re-use their fry oil longer.  Given that trans-fats lower your good cholesterol while raising your bad, are you willing to trade your health for their bottom line?  You may notice many products no longer sport partially hydrogenated fats, but have palm oil instead.  Such is the way of consumer demand. 

It would be better if people stood up and said they would prefer not to consume trans-fats, but the sheep need their shepherds in New York City.  I noticed Bickfords in Manchester had little placards declaring they went trans-fat free.  And to think, no law was required.

+1 for John.

Really, just because the city banned trans fats doesn't make them more desirable as a comestible! Given the choice, I would consume natural fats and avoid the restaurant serving trans fats, all without government supervision, of course!

Criticize the decree, but don't exalt trans fats!

[Friday]

Like it or not, trans fats make certain types of currently-readily-available foods possible at a low price.  If every local Starbucks has to start buying their pastry products from a local manufacturer, because the shelf life drops because they can no longer use trans-fats, the price may sky-rocket, and the taste may become completely unpredictable (will Lloyd's maple oat scone taste the same in San Francisco as it does in New Haven?).  Lots of things are unhealthy.  Healthy things can be unhealthy if improperly prepared.  But they can be pleasurable, and minimally harmful, when consumed in moderation.  And even if not consumed in moderation, what do you care what *I* eat?  If you don't want to eat trans fats, don't, but take your high and mighty attitude off my plate, please. 

Eat and let eat.

[Lloyd Danforth]

My Maple Nut Scones never made it out of my house!

[maineiac]

Like it or not, trans fats make certain types of currently-readily-available foods possible at a low price.  If every local Starbucks has to start buying their pastry products from a local manufacturer, because the shelf life drops because they can no longer use trans-fats, the price may sky-rocket, and the taste may become completely unpredictable (will Lloyd's maple oat scone taste the same in San Francisco as it does in New Haven?).  Lots of things are unhealthy.  Healthy things can be unhealthy if improperly prepared.  But they can be pleasurable, and minimally harmful, when consumed in moderation.  And even if not consumed in moderation, what do you care what *I* eat?  If you don't want to eat trans fats, don't, but take your high and mighty attitude off my plate, please. 

Eat and let eat.

I fully support your "Eat and let eat" credo!

I do not support coercive collectives.

I prefer not to consume what amounts to poison if possible.

"Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood!"

[cathleeninnh]

From a Healthy-Eating newsletter:

Ask the Dinner Diva by Leanne Ely, C.N.C.

I have high cholesterol and have put your advice regarding that subject to
good use lately, thank you!

A restaurant in my area is now advertising that their frying oil has "0
grams trans fat." What is your opinion on that? Is it safe to indulge,
should I ask additional questions or just stay away?

Thanks, Lee

Hi Lee!

Thanks for asking a question that definitely needs answering. I guess I
should give that restaurant kudos for using zero trans fat oil. But then
again, what have they really accomplished?

What people fail to understand that any oil heated to the temperature that
food can be deep-fried in, produces a damaged oil that will produce as
much harm as a trans fat-laden oil. So what do you do?

First of all, you AVOID anything that has been deep-fried, period.
Deep-fat frying is by far the very worst cooking method and does you no
favors nutritionally. Secondly, understand that deep fat frying potatoes
(French fries and potato chips for example) produces a toxic substance
called acryladmide, a known potent carcinogen. Unfortunately, French fries
are one of the worst foods you could possibly eat (I love them too!).

Thirdly, you use appropriate oils for appropriate jobs. Extra virgin olive
oil shouldn't ever be heated-it has a low smoking point (once it smokes,
it really shouldn't be used. The smoke is an indicator that the oil is now
damaged). I use extra virgin olive oil for salads only. I use regular
(less expensive) olive oil for cooking or if I am saut?ing something like
a stir-fry, I will use a higher smoking point oil, like safflower or even
coconut oil (it comes in a jar and is hard. I get mine at the health food
store).

Hope that helps, Lee!

[aworldnervelink]

From what I understand the health risks are worse than just elevated cholesterol. The body builds cell walls out of fats, and will incorporate the trans-fats since they mimic natural fat molecules. However, the inclusion of trans-fats causes the cell walls to become less permeable to oxygen and the entire body begins to slowly suffocate.

I am not in favor of the ban, but this is some nasty stuff.