Requirement for New York City Restaurants to Eliminate Trans Fats
In December 2006, the Board of Health and City Council approved the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s proposal to amend the Health Code. This proposal allowed for a partial phase-out of artificial trans fat in all New York City restaurants over an 18-month period.
Artificial trans fat is a substance that raises LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL (good cholesterol), causing heart disease and placing individuals at high risk of diabetes. Restaurants are a major source of artificial trans fat. This proposal mandated restaurants to switch to oils, margarines, and shortenings that have fewer than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. Approximately 95% of the 3,500 restaurants inspected in New York City are in compliance.
Please click here to read the regulation.
Please click here to read the press release.