New York City's Ban on Artificial Trans Fats

New York has always been an area about trendsetting. Though some were surprised to hear about the banning of artificial trans fats in restaurant foods, it seems that the city is benefiting from the foreign policy. Trans fats are known to increase the chances of a heart attack, and, since the 2006 veto, residents seem to be getting healthier.

A study was conducted that looked at the blood samples of residents both before and after the ban was enforced. There were 459 participants in total. The results shocked researchers as it showed that the average person had about a 57 percent drop in their trans fat levels. Those who frequent the eateries around the city had a decrease of around 62 percent. The results were so uncanny that an article was featured on the topic in the American Journal of Public Health.

The New York City Department of Health estimated that about one-fifth of the population eats out regularly within the city. The ban has increased the health benefits of a busy person who depends on fast food and other restaurants for their nourishment. In the city that never sleeps, the food industry is a vital part of the population. To reduce fat consumption is a momentous undertaking. However, with such success in this area, it won’t be long until other states follow their lead.

What foods are affected most by this ban? Well, fried chicken, doughnuts, and anything that is cooked using vegetable oils, which are notorious for having trans fatty acids. The fat increases the “bad” cholesterol in a person and reduces the amount of “good” cholesterol. By reducing the consumption of these oils, it decreases the risk that a person will develop heart disease.

This is not the first time that a mandate has been put in place about trans fats. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration made it a requirement that all food labels must include the use of these harmful fats. Another study that sampled adults before and after this mandate reported similar results. The fat in the blood levels of participants declined by over 50 percent. However, with this ban, it affected those who grocery shopped to cooked meals more than those that dined out.

While a ban won't resolve all trans fat uses, it certainly has brought awareness to the masses. In June of 2018, the FDA restricted the use of partially hydrogenated oils in processed foods. Manufacturing companies and restaurants are being forced to use more healthy fats to protect the people, and the results speak for themselves.