Trans fats ban may be reversed for bakeries

By Eric Donovan
Collegian Staff
October 17, 2007

The ban on trans fats in restaurants took effect just over a month ago, but some local officials and citizens already want it reversed.

The Committee of Public Health and Human Services, along with the support of Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, began taking steps Oct. 10 to repeal part of the ban that would allow bakeries to use trans fats in their goods.

Passed into law Sept. 1, the original ban of trans fat was enacted with little or no ripple effect. Philadelphia was the second largest city behind New York to endorse the ban. City Council voted unanimously Feb. 8 to endorse the ban, which Mayor John Street later signed into law.

However, in recent months, local bakeries began to complain about the impending ban on the use of trans fats in their establishments. The ban on trans fats would take effect in January of 2008 and would be strictly enforced by September of that year.

This protest comes after local Philadelphia bakeries attempted to recreate their goods without trans fats.

Richard Haegle, owner of a 75-year-old bakery in Mayfair, said to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “In the event that this [ban] would have gone through, we would be looking to go elsewhere.”

The threat of bakeries moving elsewhere provoked city officials to take a closer look at the ban.

“That was a mistake, a mistake on my part,” said Councilwoman Krajewski to KYW Newsradio, in reference to her vote in favor of the ban months ago.

While many see this ban as an imposition on local bakeries, seeing it as though the council is telling them what to do, others do not seem quite as convinced.

Councilman Juan Ramos, main supporter and author of the ban, said to KYW, “It is the right thing to do. The people of Philadelphia are going trans fats free.”

A question arises as to the potentially harmful nature of this banned substance. According to WebMd, there are two types of trans fats: naturally occurring and artificial trans fats.

Natural trans fats are found in light amounts in foods such as dairy products and meat. This is not the harmful kind of trans fat, though, that has council members debating.

The artificial trans fat is of concern to legislators. Found in many items that these bakeries produce, as well as fried foods, crackers and other various packaged foods, these artificial trans fats can clog arteries and thus cause major health complications.

According to the American Heart Association, people should not consume more than two grams of trans fats per day.

While trans fats have been proven to cause medical problems, these bakeries have not been able to successfully remove them from their recipes.

Several local bakers were on hand at the hearing Oct. 10 to give their testimony on removing trans fats from their baked goods. Among those present were Szypula’s Bakery, Isgro Paticceria, Flying Monkey Patisserie and Haegle’s. All stated that their goods did not turn out like their original products.

Councilman Ramos offered a compromise amendment to the ban, which would allow bakeries to continue using trans fats. However, they would have to place a waiver on their establishments stating that trans fats were used in their baking. The amendment, however, was turned down by the council.

Final decisions on the trans fats ban reversal could be decided within the next two weeks.

donovane1@lasalle.edu