No More Trans Fats in Boston Restaurants! (Harvard: for sale, subsidized)

[Eric H.]

I recently read in the newspaper that Boston has banned trans fats from being used in its restaurants. What are your thoughts on this hot topic? Should the government tell us what we should be eating, or do we have the right to be unhealthy?

Personally, I think it's a good move, although the Homer Simpson in me wonders if Boston will now be bereft of donuts and other baked goods coming from the breakfast and lunch dining spots. Purple donuts are not without their charm!

I believe, however, that promoting health by ridding ourselves of a dangerous, make-believe food compound will have some direct, positive effect on our overall health as well as health costs in the long-run. We have little control over knowing what restaurant foods have trans fats, so this move will eliminate one health worry. Playing devil's advocate, however, will this open the floodgates to get rid of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, proplyne glycol, benzoyl peroxide, and artificial flavors and colors (and other petroleum-derived compounds) that are showing up in our food and our government deems unhealthy?

As you can see, I'm somewhat on the fence on this matter, but again would lean towards eliminating trans fats. To perhaps validate this point, we have federal and state standards on air pollution emissions in the City of Boston, so why not on hidden, artery-clogging ingredients in our restaurant food?

[LeavingMA]

I think it is a horrible idea. I've heard that this is going to cost the restaurants more money. I also don't think people should tell other people what to eat. I'm in good shape and I enjoy something "bad" for me once in awhile. What ever happened to freedom of choice in this country.

Just as an analogy to throw it out there. A woman can have an abortion because it is her body, but I can't eat foods with trans fats because it isn't good for me. So I can't choose what to do with my body.

I've also heard some of the things they are putting in foods to substitute for trans fats are just as bad as the trans fats...so what is the point.

[1979]

Banning trans fats is a spectacular idea! Once again, Mass has proven to itself to be a leader in positive trends! Trans fats, is a completely unnatural thing where fats are bombarded with hydrogen molecules to form a solid--which our bodies can't handle. It is a throw back to the days when there was no emphasis in the media on the importance of maintaining good health. Removing trans-fats will also save money in the long run in the health care industry.

[Valerie C]

Good God, where does it end? OK, in theory it's good that people will be eating less trans-fats when they decide to go out to eat, HOWEVER why do we need the government to decide this for us? Shouldn't citizens be responsible for what they put into their bodies? If a restarurant or chain wants to proclaim itself "trans fat free" then they should have the ability to do that. But, let the consumer decide? Oh nonono, big brother knows best

On a seemingly unrelated subject, we all know that many states have banned smoking from public and private establishments. As a non-smoker, this is nice for me, but again, WHY is government deciding what can and can not go on inside a person's place of business. Why not let the consumer decide?? I was reading somewhere that all of these bans on smoking are having a negative effect on the big tobacco companies, so the us government (which has long subsidized these companies!) will be paying even more to help cover the losses due to smoking bans... Where does it end.....

Originally Posted by 1979

Banning trans fats is a spectacular idea! Once again, Mass has proven to itself to be a leader in positive trends! Trans fats, is a completely unnatural thing where fats are bombarded with hydrogen molecules to form a solid--which our bodies can't handle. It is a throw back to the days when there was no emphasis in the media on the importance of maintaining good health. Removing trans-fats will also save money in the long run in the health care industry.

[jasape]

While I would never so much as touch a food with trans fat, I do not believe it is my or anybody else's business to tell another person what they can and cannot eat or a restaurant what they can or cannot serve. The government should not be butting into consumers business.

While the banning of trans fats is technically healthy (which I am glad for) there are other instances of the governemnt making laws making our food LESS healthy. They are trying to irradiate spinach and lettuce, they banned the sale of raw almonds in California, and raw dairy products are banned for sale in most states. These are all healthy foods, but even if you don't believe they are and you don't want to eat them, other people should have a right to eat what they choose.

[LeavingMA]

The government uses scare tatics to slowly take away our rights and freedoms. They say we will "be safer" or this is "more healthy" for us. That is how they market all these insane laws against personal freedom. The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany did the same. I'm not saying we are close to that stage yet, but it starts somewhere.

My opinion is as long as I'm not harming anyone other than myself...the government should leave me alone.

Just to add about smokers. They have shown in studies that because smokers die earlier than most other people, they actually save us $. They don't have the high cost of health care into their late 70's and 80's that other people do.

[xS☺B☺s]

Many of the major medical centers found ways to use more healthy cooking oils to make their fried food, and what do ya know - it tastes better too! Try B-Good on Dartmouth St for fast food without (or with less of) the junk and see what you think. I think it's good.

That said, all these diet and medicine fads are based on short term study and questionable science. First it was fats. Then cholesterol. now Transfat? Oh, I meant "good" cholesterol. Or is it carbs? Maybe if they stop paying Harvard brats from being paid 2 million to study cow farts, we wouldn't have to be innundated with their junk science on a daily basis. Anyways, my best suggestion is wait and see, time will tell.