It's Official: California First State to Ban Trans Fats

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill today that requires all California restaurants to be trans-fat free by 2010 and all baked goods by 2011 so bye-bye margarine and certain oils. In case you didn't know: "Consuming trans fat is linked to coronary heart disease, and today we are taking a strong step toward creating a healthier future for California," says the Governator. This far supersedes the "Voluntary Artificial Trans Fat Reduction Program" that enticed compliant restaurants with a sticker to hang in the window; now they'll all have to do it, sticker or no sticker. Cities like New York and San Francisco are already all over this one, Wolfgang Puck says his restaurants don't use the bad stuff, and the Loews Hotels very publicly announced last year that they're going trans fat free. We assume most high-end restaurants are already on the bandwagon as well. Still, California had to go bigger, bolder.

We took a poll in late 2006 to see if you thought Los Angeles should do a city-wide ban. It was the height of holiday gorging season and 75% of you said we the city should get rid of the suckers---of course, only four people voted. Let's see what you think now.

· More Trans Fat Coverage [~ELA~]