New York City's trans-fat ban moves to final stage -- Newsday.com

The final stage of the New York City plan to eliminate foods containing trans fats from restaurant menus goes into effect Tuesday, the city health department said.

A year ago, the trans-fat ban in restaurants applied only to spreads and frying oils. Starting Tuesday, it extends to items such as baked goods, frozen foods, cannoli and doughnuts, the health department said. Only foods served in the manufacturer's original sealed packaging, such as candy and crackers, remain exempt.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other supporters of the ban have said that research is showing that trans fat contributes to high cholesterol and increased numbers of heart attacks. Bloomberg has said of the ban: "We're not trying to take away anybody's ability to go out and have the kind of food they want in the quantities they want, but we are trying to make that food safer. If we can do it without trans fats, you'll save . . . a couple of hundred lives a year in New York City."

The first part of the ban has been successful, according to a health department news release, with more than 98 percent of the restaurants inspected in compliance last month. "Some food chains and cooking oil manufacturers have not only eliminated trans fat," the statement said, "but also reduced saturated fat by 20 percent to 35 percent in certain fried foods, further boosting the health benefit for consumers."

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