States Determined to Follow NYC Lead in Banning Trans Fats -- State Net Capitol Journal

State legislatures are spurred into action by New York City's trans fat ban. Lawmakers in eight states are crafting their own recipes for removing artery-hardening fats from restaurant kitchens.

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) January 12, 2007 -- Lawmakers in eight states are poised to join New York City in limiting trans fats according to editors of State Net Capitol Journal. (www.statenet.com)

"Shortly after NYC announced its mandatory ban on trans fats, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, New Hampshire and New Jersey all introduced bills aimed at enacting their own prohibitions," said Rich Ehisen, editor of the Capitol Journal. The NYC announcement did more than just shake up the Big Apple - it inspired states across the nation to lay out their own recipes for removing artery-hardening fats from restaurant kitchens. Now 18 bills are already in the hopper for consideration during the 2007 legislative session."

by forcing some of the world's largest food chains and restaurateurs to use healthier alternatives in their food preparation, New York City has paved the way for what I hope will be a national movement to improve the health quality of the food we eat in restaurants.

In Connecticut, Senator Andrew Roraback (R) who co-authored legislation to bar the use of trans fats and co-author Sen. John McKinney (R) made it clear that the NYC ruling was the catalyst for their legislation. McKinney noted that "by forcing some of the world's largest food chains and restaurateurs to use healthier alternatives in their food preparation, New York City has paved the way for what I hope will be a national movement to improve the health quality of the food we eat in restaurants."

Bills pre-filed in California, Texas and Florida are designed to regulate or bar public schools from serving or selling foods made with trans fats. A South Carolina measure would force restaurants to notify customers if food is cooked in or contains trans fats. All of the proposed new rules would apply only to freshly cooked restaurant meals and not to pre-packaged products like potato chips, cookies and pastries.

Currently 27 states are in regular legislative sessions and 14 more are pre-filing legislation for 2007.

About State Net
State Net (www.statenet.com) has helped organizations track legislative and regulatory developments for more than 30 years. Headquartered in Sacramento, CA, State Net monitors every bill in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Congress along with all state agency regulations. The company delivers online services, issue-based consultation and analysis that enables the nation's leading organizations to effectively respond to opportunities and risks in the states.

State Net Capitol Journal delivers coverage of issues, decisions, scandals and politics from all 50 states. Featuring analysis of emerging trends, state budgets, governors, legislatures and elections, Capitol Journal readers gain an intelligent overview of the states and issues each week.

References:

Ehisen, R. (2007, January 8). Banning the Fat. State Net Capitol Journal.
http://www.statenet.com/capj/20070108.pdf

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health food trans fat restaurant legislation state legislatures

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