Trans Fat

Trans fat is in the news on a weekly basis. We hear so much about saturated fat and non saturated fat, good fat, bad fat, our bodies need some fat, our bodies eat too much fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, good oil, bad oil, etc. What are we to believe? Should the government and other agencies be allowed to tell us what we can or can not eat? Can we make our own decisions and live with the consequences we made? On the other hand, heart disease is killing more people each year due to the food choices they make. Should McDonald's be allowed to cook their French fries in trans fat? Should New York City be banned from using all trans fats in food preparation? Here are two different opinions - what's yours?

Opinion #1 -

If New Yorkers replace all sources of artificial trans fat, by even the most conservative estimates, at least 500 deaths from heart disease would be prevented each year in New York City - more than the number of people killed annually in motor vehicle crashes. Based on long-term studies, the number of preventable deaths may be many times higher. Trans fat from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is a toxic substance that does not belong in food. Eating trans fat is as dangerous as eating plastic or rat poison. As a customer, you shouldn't be in a position to have to make a decision - trans fat shouldn't exist in the first place.

Opinion #2 -

"Customers should have freedom of choice."
What will the government tell us we can or can't do next? If we know that trans fats are bad for us, shouldn't we be able to make our own decisions on whether to eat that food or not? Trans fats improve shelf life and keep the prices of certain foods down. If the government doesn't think we are capable of making our own decisions, what's next? Banning skateboarding, bicycling, or cheerleading? Shouldn't the decision be yours?