California Goes Trans Fat Free

In response to the new law signed in by the Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California on Friday announced a complete ban to use of trans fats in restaurants and retail baked goods.

While under the new bill, restaurants, bakeries, delicatessens, cafeterias and other businesses classified as "food facilities" will excise trans fat from their products. Restaurants will do so by 2010, while retail baked goods will do so by 2011.

Moreover, every violation will carry a penalty beginning at $25 per violation increasing up to $1,000 for subsequent violations, the bill marked. However, food sold in packages sealed by manufacturers will be exempted.

Trans fats, manufactured under a process called partial hydrogenation is created by pumping hydrogen into liquid oil at high temperature. Resulting in an inexpensive fat, trans fat prolongs the shelf life and flavor stability of the food. It also helps in maintaining the appearance of packaged foods.

However, despite the positives, trans fat have long been on the hit lists for health experts.

Evidence shows that trans fat lowers the levels of HDL the ‘good’ cholesterol and conversely raises the LDL , the body’s ‘bad’ cholesterol levels - the levels that contribute to the onset of coronary heart disease.

Statistically, "a 2 percent increase in trans fat intake results in a 25 percent increase in likelihood of developing coronary heart disease", Dr. Clyde Yancy, incoming president of the American Heart Association remarked.

Trans fats are also linked to obesity, America’s raising cause of concern.