It looks like trans fats just can't find a friend in the world.
Already banned in New York City and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, the artery-clogging acids used in food preparation may meet their match in Philadelphia as well.
A bill sponsored by Councilman Juan Ramos passed without opposition through City Council's Committee on Public Health and Human Services last week, a first step toward banning trans fats in all restaurants, takeout eateries and food trucks.
The bill will next move to a first reading before the full Council today and will be up for a vote as early as Feb. 8.
Under the provision, food-service establishments would be banned from using any food containing more than 0.5 grams of trans fats per serving in food preparation starting Sept. 1. The prohibition would then be extended to baked goods the next September.
According to Ramos, such a ban would save about 250 lives a year in Philadelphia and help the city get involved with health issues "on the national level."
"There's a place for government in issues of public health," he said, especially in the case of trans fats, which are linked with heart disease.
Ramos added that the bill, introduced in December, drew inspiration from New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which instituted a similar ban using its regulatory authority.
If the bill passes, Philadelphia would be the first major city to actually legislate against the use of trans fats.
Ramos also added that the bill is meant to continue a trend in healthier living in Philadelphia. He cited improvements in city-wide obesity rankings and the recent successful passage of a smoking ban in most city bars and restaurants.
But he also drew a contrast between the smoking ban - which proved highly contentious and took years to pass - and the positive response his bill has received so far, even from the food-service industry.
At a public hearing on the bill held by the Public Health Committee Jan. 25, "we had no one testify against the bill," Ramos said.
Indeed, in response to increasing public pressure and a new FDA requirement that mandates putting trans fats information on food labels, big fast-food chains like Wendy's, Ruby Tuesday and KFC are promising to limit their use of trans fats.
Penn Dining Services also seems to be jumping on board - it just recently switched over to a trans-fat-free oil in food preparation, said Tia McDonald, district executive chef for Penn Dining.
She added that the shift to a new cooking oil wasn't difficult and didn't cost significantly more. "The health benefit definitely outweighs" the costs, she said.
Now, the only trans fats you'll find being sold by Aramark Corp. at Penn - the food-services giant the University brings in to run its dining facilities - comes in the form of prepackaged foods like Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats.
And cheesesteak fans, have no fear - Geno's and Pat's say they already use trans-fat-free oils.
