by KYW’s Mike Dunn
Now that smoking is banned in Philadelphia, City Council today looks at another health debate -- whether to ban trans fats in restaurants.
City Councilman Juan Ramos is proposing an outright ban on the use of trans fats in all Philadelphia eateries. Among those testifying at Thursday’s hearing is Dr. Michael Jacobson, head of the Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest. He says Philly could take the lead on this:
“If Philadelphia banned trans fat, that would send a signal to other cities to do it through legislation, do it through the health department ordinance, but let’s get the job done to protect the public’s health.”
New York has already ordered a ban, though without formal legislation. Jacobson calls trans fat the single most harmful fat in the food supply, and he says restaurants are finding that substitutes are just as tasty and not much more expensive.
Listen to a live KYW1060.com webcast of today's Council hearing at 10 a.m.
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