- Aug 20, 2000
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Calgary moves against trans fats
While at 26 years of age I'm among those who have made the change to lead a healthier lifestyle (at the insistence of a growing waistline), this kind of sticks in my craw.
I really don't want the government deciding what's healthy enough for me to eat - I thought that was my job. One unique issue to Canada is that since the government is the sole supplier of healthcare in the country, they have a vested economical interest in improving the diet of its citizens. Still... Ugh.
The Calgary region is to become the first in the country to require restaurants to cut the use of trans fats, suspected of killing up to 5,000 Canadians a year from heart disease.
Starting Jan. 1, the regional health authority ? which serves more than 1.2 million people ? will require that all margarines, spreads made with margarine and oils used for cooking contain a maximum of two per cent trans fats of the total fat content.
The health consequences made it imperative that the Calgary Health Region act now, said Dr. Brent Friesen, medical officer of health.
Trans fats raise the levels of low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, in the body and can lead to clogged arteries and heart disease.
The Heart & Stroke Foundation has estimated that consumption of trans fats accounts for 3,000 to 5,000 deaths in Canada a year.
A majority of 400 Calgary restaurants surveyed have already made the switch to oils that meet the new requirements, and two-thirds already use acceptable spreads, the health region said.
But it hasn't been without some issues.
"When we first changed, you know the customers did complain because it doesn't taste as good as before," said Rick Man of the Treasures of China restaurant.
But now, diners are used to it. "I think they're worried more about their health than they worry about the taste."
And some chain restaurants are waiting for national plans from head offices, Friesen said.
Calgary food inspectors will issue warnings for the first five months to give restaurants time to adjust. After that, violations will be posted on the health region's website and, in extreme cases, the city could shut down restaurants that don't comply.
While at 26 years of age I'm among those who have made the change to lead a healthier lifestyle (at the insistence of a growing waistline), this kind of sticks in my craw.
I really don't want the government deciding what's healthy enough for me to eat - I thought that was my job. One unique issue to Canada is that since the government is the sole supplier of healthcare in the country, they have a vested economical interest in improving the diet of its citizens. Still... Ugh.