| ■ L.A. Restaurants Urged to Voluntarily Cut Trans Fats | 07.02.05 |
| Under a plan released Tuesday, restaurants in Los Angeles and the surrounding county will be urged to voluntarily phase out artery-clogging trans fats over the next 18 months. City and county officials said the plan could include incentives, such as a window decal that restaurants might use to declare their trans fat-free status to customers, the Associated Press reported. The plan comes after local officials learned last week that state law prevented them from banning trans fats, or from forcing restaurants to display nutritional information on their menus. The California Restaurant Association supports the voluntary approach, spokesman Andrew Casana told the AP. In December, New York City became the first American city to pass a law banning all trans fats in all restaurants. The ban takes effect in mid-2008. Similar laws are being discussed by several U.S. cities. A number of major restaurant chains are also taking steps to reduce trans fats in their foods. ----- |