NYC Bans Trans-Fat

Originally posted by shots

What can I say? The judge was right unlike these stupid city officials who are now trying to circumvent the ruling by writing a law first. If they get away with it; hang on to your hats, next they will ban butter, then sugar or anything else that can make you fat. only at that point they will also say you cannot cook with it in your own home.

I am glad the judge threw out the law suit. But there may be more to it. In a television interview one of the attorneys filing the suit said that should the case get thrown out they would file again and again and again. Also it is not just a few attorneys, there is an army of consulting attorneys. I would like to think that this would be the end of suit but I don't think it is yet.

Originally posted by MrMedic
Just imagine how many millions of tax payer dollars were used by this coucil to determine the need for a ban.

Here's another angle for you to consider. Imagine how many BILLIONS of dollars it is costing the government every time an obese person uses a public hospital to be treated for diseases and health issues that only exist because of their weight.

I'm all for personal and social freedom but obesity is almost always a result of a far more complex underlying issue. Over-eating can be caused by depression, lonliness, fear and boredom to name just a few reasons. And it's a self-perpetuating problem because if junk food is used to treat the afore mentioned symptons regularly then a chemical addiction can be formed in the brain to the "feel-good" response of eating.

My heart breaks every time I see an overweight/obese person over-eating or indulging in junk/fast food because the fatter the person, the greater their pain. Personally I think that fast food places should have an additional tax put on them that goes towards researching a cure/education program to help the many, many miserable people trapped within the complexities of modern society.

Pokey Oats

Originally posted by RedGolem
I would like to think that this would be the end of suit but I don't think it is yet.

You are right it will not be the last. Here is an example why.

Ten Dumbest Food Cop Ideas

It is clear they have just targeted trans fats for the time being and makes one wonder who are they going to sue when they learn that 25% of all Trans Fats come from natural sources.

Amidst the howls of outrage from people who do not want the " evil government " telling them what they can be served .

there does not seem to be any counterpoint , questioning the " right " of Restauranteers to simply decide what adatives go into our meals for thier benefit not ours

yes we have the option of declining to eat in a given establishment , but as has been pointed out there is no labeling obligation in restaurants .

are we expected to send chef a 15 point questionaire / check list before each course is served ?

trans fats seem to be used for the convenience of the kitchen staff , and the balance sheet of the restaurant owner , not the good of the clientelle

some kitchens are fastidious in only using certain ingreedients in a given dish , others sprinkle MSG over dishes with a spoon literally - it comes in a 1.5 kg yellow plastic tub in the uk , and is sold widely by catering wholesalers .

so , i ask the question : why are people so willing to allow the resauranteer to decide , purely for his benefit what we eat , with little or no consulation . Yet when the government attempts to tell him to use a product that is far better for us , howls of protest errupt ?

why the heck is that ?

GOOD GRIEF!!!

Trans fats are POISON.

Literally.

Most are byproducts, true - but their presence is predictable.

Why on earth would we want to protect industry's right to poison us?

Originally posted by soficrow

Trans fats are POISON.................

Most are byproducts, true - but their presence is predictable.

an excellent point , several foods do contain traces of toxic compounds , that are [ at the levels found naturally ] of absolutley minimal risk .

does the presence of traces of mercury in tuna steak give a restauraneer the right to pour mercury from a bottle onto the griddle when he pan sears my tuna fillet ?????

ignorant_ape and soficrow, I think you are misssing the point here. Most will agree that trans fat are bad however that is not the point. The main point is the GOVERNMENT is dicatating what resturants can and can not serve.

Do you want your government telling you what you can and cannot eat? I know I sure do not

IF people tried to unanimously get rid of trans fatty acid in their diets, would they have a realistic chance? i don't think governemtns should control everything, but neither should a few food chains, that resort to selling poison because it has a long shelf life.

Originally posted by Long Lance
i don't think governemtns should control everything, but neither should a few food chains, that resort to selling poison because it has a long shelf life.

For crying out loud anything can be dangerous if you overindulge in them.

And contrary to what you claim trans fats are not poisonous, that is a label that the food police have given them.

Fact: According to New York Times science reporter Gina Kolata: "The National Academy of Sciences, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the Food and Drug Administration have all come to the same conclusion: Trans fats are on a par with saturated fats, like butter or lard. Both increase cholesterol levels and most people would be better off if they ate less of all of them."

Fact: The Food and Drug Administration warns against totally eliminating trans fats from your diet, because they are present in so many foods that provide essential nutrients.

www.trans-fatfacts.com...

[edit on 12/8/2006 by shots]

Originally posted by shots

For crying out loud anything can be dangerous if you overindulge in them.

OK, I will indulge < pun > you . how will i know when I have over indulged in trans-farts if, as you desire - chefs and restauranteers can deicide with out my knowledge or consent if and how much trans-fats a meal contains . They are indistinguishable visually or by taste from other cooking oils .

and they are only used in catering for the benefit of the restauranteer , not me .

so - how do i know , if i exercise my "right " to eat these unhealth option , when i have exceeded my monthly ` safe quota `

PS - quantity / portion number of fried foods is not the correct answer - as if un processed sunflower or olive oils are used - the allowable portion count will be higher than if trans-fats are added .

Originally posted by ignorant_ape


OK, I will indulge < pun > you . how will i know when I have over indulged in trans-farts if, as you desire - chefs and restauranteers can deicide with out my knowledge or consent if and how much trans-fats a meal contains . They are indistinguishable visually or by taste from other cooking oils .

The answwer is simple eat everything in moderation. It's not hard at all.

SHOTS :

i will make it simple

if :

10 portions cooked in one medium are considerd " acceptable moderation "

and :

10 portions cooked in another medium would be "foolhardy over indulgance "

give that i am not told which portions i eat are cooked in which medium , and cannot tell myself - how many portions should i eat ?

Originally posted by Long Lance
IF people tried to unanimously get rid of trans fatty acid in their diets, would they have a realistic chance? i don't think governemtns should control everything, but neither should a few food chains, that resort to selling poison because it has a long shelf life.

Yes, Ive done it. Its by far not easy. You have to read the ingrediance of everything you eat. If you cannot find out whats in it, you can't eat it.

That diet is not an easy one BUT its most definately possible, if your willing to sacrifice something for it.

The important question isn't why are food industries allowed to serve this poison, its why in gods name are people eating this stuff?!

You have one problem if food is being served with poison in it, but its an entirely different and MUCH LARGER problem if people willingly and knowingly eat it. That you can complain about it, yet how many of you have gone on a zero transfat diet? Its a decent sacrifice, but one that if you do actually care enough, you would be more then willing to take.

I ended up look up a certain diet I could stick to weekly. I ate the exact same things every single week. Made sure it included all the stuff I would need like vitamins and such.

For anyone looking to do this and is willing to sacrifice, seafood is a great route. Fish can give you so many of the things you need for the day (minus calcium and vitamin C, and two other things you need). Fish is the best food choice you could make.

No transfat means alot of things you wont be eating anymore that you use to. Is it worth it though? I'll let you decide, but for me it most certainly is.

If people are stupid enough to eat food that they have no idea what its made of or what goes into it, let them feel the effects.

I haven't read the thread yet but I wanted to say this. What next? French restaurants won't be able to use butter? Only margarine? Where does this all end? I'm sick of the government telling me what I can and can not put in my own body. Period.

Although, I do think that nutritional information should be readily available any time food or beverage is sold.

Shots the quote you gave about the transfats not being bad was misinterpreted.

What it means is that though they are made with transfats some things still have positive things you need in them (or so they say you need them).

Honestly though, as long as you can find a replacement for the nutrience that you are no longer getting from that food, your fine.

FISH is the best route to go. Fish, orange juice, a calcium source, and I think a couple veggies (Have to go look in the fridge lol), are all you need as far as nutrience goes. Fish holds more nutrience for your body that is needed then any other single source by far.

You still need calcium sources, vitamin c sources, and a couple vitamins found in veggies like carrots I believe (you should look up veggies to find what you need though). I still eat meat though.

I don't eat from resturants anymore, except one in town because they were nice enough to actually give me a list of what they use and whats in there stuff (small town, small business, I know the owner personally), and I trust what they provide.

Originally posted by ignorant_ape
give that i am not told which portions i eat are cooked in which medium , and cannot tell myself - how many portions should i eat ?

Well if you cannot tell yourself then I would say you have one very big problem.

A good rule of thumb is to follow the guidelines as set fourth in the FDA food pyramid, that is what I do

www.nalusda.gov...

Originally posted by shots
Well if you cannot tell yourself then I would say you have one very big problem.

you can tell if a peice of fried food has been cooked in trans-fats or regular oil ???????????????????????

i have been talking about the specefic difference between foods fried in trans fats or other oils for the last 3 replies

so please do not missrepresent me - and attempt to claim i cannot tell the difference between fried or boiled

Originally posted by ignorant_ape
you can tell if a peice of fried food has been cooked in trans-fats or regular oil

???????????????????????

Yes I can; in fact my wife dare not switch the margarine or I will be all over her. The same goes with one brand of 2 percent milk versus another no matter what she she does if she switches I catch it every time and it bugs the heck out of her that I can tell when she is trying to do it.

Now even if you yourself cannot tell, again I say you should use the FDA pyramid in fact you can get exactly what you should eat from their website. Just insert your age and amount of exercise on the right and presto there you have it.

www.mypyramid.gov...

Now I realize you are going to try and argue trans fat versus saturated fats and I am sure even you know when food is fried period and the guidelines are very specific, all fats should be eaten sparingly no matter where they come from.

Seems rather simple to me, just why you are having such a hard problem is beyond me:shk:

Originally posted by shots all fats should be eaten sparingly no matter where they come from.

Dr. Atkins rolls over in his grave

Originally posted by shots
ignorant_ape and soficrow, I think you are misssing the point here. ...The main point is the GOVERNMENT is dicatating what resturants can and can not serve.

Do you want your government telling you what you can and cannot eat?

I EXPECT my government to protect me from exposure to poison. At least in my food, if not prescription pharmaceuticals.

But it ain't happenin.' Why? Cuz industry lobbyists get to carry the ball. Every time.