Trans fats ban to be considered by Texas State Legislature

by Vince Leibowitz of Capitol Annex

A bill authored by State Sen. Elliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) would prohibit a food service establishment in Texas from packaging, storing, or using trans fat to prepare or serve or serve food if passed by the 81st Texas Legislature when it convenes in January.

Although the bill, SB 204, makes two exceptions—for deep-frying yeast dough or cake batter and packaged food served in an original package with a label indicating that the food has a trans fat content of less than 0.5 grams per serving—it would have a significant impact on the food service industry in Texas.

Although numerous cities across the country have enacted ordinances banning trans-fats, few states–Massachusetts, Maryland, and Vermont–have considered similar legislation. California became the first state to actually adopt a trans-fat ban earlier this year, but the legislation passed there doesn’t mandate final compliance until 2010.