Wed, March 28, 2007
CHR eyes permits as tool in trans fat fight
UPDATED: 2007-03-28 01:25:53 MST
By BILL KAUFMANN, CALGARY SUN
Eateries refusing to halt trans fats in their cooking could face the
threat of having their operating permits revoked by the Calgary Health
Region starting as early as this fall, says a CHR official. That's a likely scenario, dependent on a
three-month consultation process with restaurants and the public
beginning next month, said Dr. Brent Friesen, the CHR's medical officer
of health. "The key tool for us will be our permits ... I
think it's totally realistic in having a total ban -- certainly those
were the findings of a federal committee," said Friesen. The health impact of trans fats -- particularly
those used in deep frying and baking -- is at least as serious as the
menace of smoking, he said. "Studies and research suggest it's passed it in
importance in terms of childhood obesity," he said, adding eliminating
the fats could reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke by up
to 23%. A federal effort to clamp down on trans fats
isn't expected to be fully implemented until June 2010, which is too
long to wait, said Friesen. "It's very important to move on this on a
regional level," he said, noting such a ban in Calgary, if enacted,
would be fully implemented by the fall of 2008.
Pending the upcoming consultation, Friesen said eateries could also be
required to post the saturated fat and salt content of their dishes in
a highly visible manner. Business resistance to the requirements, he added, would be both unreasonable and unrealistic.
"We require them to have utensils in a sanitary condition, we're
talking about a similar approach to preparing food -- there are
alternatives to trans fats," he said. The CHR would initially approach businesses
employing education on the fats and sodium issues rather than
punishment, said Friesen.
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