Good news! Canada will legislate a ban trans fats

[Guest guest]

MPs declare war on trans fats

 

Joe Paraskevas

For CanWest News Service, with files from Canadian Press

http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/story.html?id=4bb7c418-7094-4c\

41-83ed-141c097800dd

 

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

 

OTTAWA -- Members of Parliament voted Tuesday to set Canada on a path to

banning artificial trans fats despite charges such action would be

heavy-handed, taking on such favourite foods as store-bought doughnuts

and even home-baked goods.

 

Most MPs, including Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, rejected such

suggestions and voted 193-73 to give the government one year to

introduce either new rules or new legislation that " effectively

eliminates " trans fatty acids, the cholesterol-raising fats that have

been linked to heart disease.

 

" We're calling it an absolute victory, " said Pat Martin, the Manitoba

NDP MP who sponsored the motion. " We will be here to make sure we see

this through. "

 

Some trans fatty acids occur naturally in beef and dairy products, but

are also produced artificially in hydrogenated oils and are known to

raise blood levels of bad cholesterol.

 

Trans fats came into wide use amid worries about links between saturated

fats and heart disease. But using hydrogenated oil instead of saturated

fats proved to be a case of replacing one so-called bad fat with another.

 

Dosanjh said he would honour the motion that could make Canada the

second country in the world -- after Denmark -- to ban trans fats.

 

" This was a motion that I think will have the support of the House, "

Dosanjh said, before the vote. " That's a motion that has my support. "

 

The government last week announced it was setting up a task force to

recommend ways Ottawa can reduce trans fats " to the lowest levels

possible. " The trans fat task force will include representatives from

the food industry, academia and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

 

A trans fat ban could be one option, said a spokesman for Dosanjh.

 

MPs opposed to a trans fats ban argued Tuesday such a move represented

excessive government interference in Canadians' lives.

 

" Today, the NDP are asking us to vote to protect Canadians, especially

children, " British Columbia Conservative MP Stockwell Day said in the House.

 

" What evil would they ban? Why, it is none other than the malicious

trans fats which presently lurk on Tim Hortons shelves, in cracker boxes

in grocery stores and in grandma's baking. "

 

Day criticized NDP members for their own fondness for trans fats.

 

" I watch them at coffee breaks, inhaling cookies and doughnuts faster

than anyone, " Day said.

 

Restaurant industry representatives, among others, have warned a sudden

trans fat ban could force them to re-introduce substances, such as

animal fats and palm oils, considered harmful even before the

introduction of trans fats, just to maintain their products.

 

Officials from Health Canada have said a ban could cause disruptions

among food suppliers because without trans fats the shelf life of

products that contain them would be reduced.

 

But reaction to Tuesday's vote from the food industry was reserved and

even supportive.

 

A spokeswoman for the 17,500-member Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices

Association said many industry efforts to reduce or eliminate trans fats

are underway.

 

" CRFA fully supports the intent of the motion which is to find ways to

reduce trans fat in Canadian food to the lowest level possible, " said

Jill Holroyd, a CRFA vice-president.

 

" The only question for our industry really is when and how they can be

removed in a responsible manner so that we are truly offering a healthy

alternative to consumers. "

 

Fast food outlet New York Fries has already eliminated trans fats,

Holroyd said.

 

Pizza company Pizza Pizza has removed trans fats in its pizza crusts,

she added, and Harvey's is reducing trans fats by using sunflower oil.

 

Tim Hortons and sandwich giant Subway have for years offered items on

their menu that are seen as being healthier for consumers.

 

A statement from hamburger giant McDonald's Canada said the company also

has reduced trans fat levels in its cooking oil and it would work with

government and industry to further cut out trans fats.

 

" We want to continue to be part of the consultation, " said the statement.

 

McDonald's admitted earlier this fall that it was having a more

difficult time than expected in eliminating trans fats from its menu as

it had said it would do.

 

Legislation already exists that would force producers of foods

containing trans fats to label their products accordingly.

 

Labelling requirements would come into effect in 2006.

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2004