California passed legislation last month banning trans fats from restaurants by 2010 and from all baked products by 2011. Some cities have enacted bans on the artery-clogging fat, including New York whose deadline for bakers to make the switch occurred July 1. But, California becomes the first state to make the move.
Many fast food restaurant chains have already started to make the switch, and the statewide ban will have a ripple effect, particularly for national chains that do business in other states. For independent bakery operators, the bans have not been as easy, particularly in replacing hydrogenated oil shortenings used for cake icings.
With California on board, other states may soon fall into line. And, the cards seem to be stacked in the anti-trans-fat crusaders' favor.
An article about the recent legislation in the San Diego Union-Tribune quoted one such crusader, Stephen L. Johnson, founder of bantransfat.com. “It's like winning the Super Bowl and the World Series all in one day,” he said.