“California is a leader in promoting health and nutrition, and I am pleased to continue that tradition by being the first state in the nation to phase out trans fats,” Schwarzenegger said. “Consuming trans fat is linked to coronary heart disease, and today we are taking a strong step toward creating a healthier future for California.”
The law, AB 97 by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia), will ban cooking with artificial trans fats in restaurants by Jan. 1, 2010, and bar their presence in baked goods by Jan. 1, 2011.
Trans fat has a long shelf life but has been linked to heart disease.
The law trails steps already taken by such culinary institutions as Burger King and Spago Beverly Hills, to meet customer demand.
“I am completely in support of it,” chef and Spago owner Wolfgang Puck said in a statement. “My companies stopped using trans fats years ago.”
“Everybody agrees there are health benefits in getting rid of trans fat,” said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “It causes heart disease and it is causing several thousand deaths each year.”
Arnold for Prez!
Hopefully, Green Berets don’t have any trans fats.