A Senate committee is considering a bill that that would prohibit restaurants from serving food prepared with or containing trans fats, which doctors say increases the risk for heart disease.
Following the lead of New York City which passed a law banning the fat in restaurant foods, Rutland Republican Senator Kevin Mullin said the restrictions would help to reduce the state’s medical costs.
Artificial trans fats, short for trans fatty acids, are listed on food labels as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.
The fats, found in some shortenings, margarine and frying oils and used in everything from french fries to pizza dough to pancake mix, are believed to be harmful because they wreak havoc with cholesterol levels.