Assembly Hears Bills To Ban Trans Fats

The California Assembly this week will hear several proposals for bills seeking to ban the use of trans fats in business establishments and schools, the AP/Los Angeles Daily News reports.

The Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday will consider legislation (AB 97) by Assembly member Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) that would ban the use of trans fats in oils, margarine and shortening at "food facilities," including restaurants, cafeterias and other businesses.

The Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday will consider a pair of measures (AB 90 and AB 86) seeking to ban trans fats in food served in California schools. The bills were introduced by Assembly members Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), respectively.

Opposition from Restaurants

Lara Dunbar, senior vice president of government affairs for the California Restaurant Association, said Mendoza's bill would hurt small restaurants by forcing them to purchase more expensive substitutes for trans fats. Dunbar said the group favors an education campaign as an alternative to a ban that would encourage the public to avoid foods with high trans fat content (Lawrence, AP/Los Angeles Daily News, 3/4).

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