The idea of government banning restaurant use of artificial trans fats doesn’t leave good taste in Oakland County Commissioner Brad Jacobsen’s mouth.
‘It’s a matter of consumer choice,? said the Republican commissioner who represents Oxford and Addison townships. ‘If you want to eat a donut or a salad, it’s your choice.?
Introduced by Commissioner Marcia Gerhenson (D-Bloomfield Township), a resolution requesting the county Health Division take the necessary actions to eliminate the use of trans fats in food service establishments by December 2008 will be discussed at the county commission’s next General Government Committee meeting on Monday, Feb. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
‘It may not get out of committee depending on how it all shakes out,? said Jacobsen, who serves on the General Government Committee. ‘I’m not even sure all of (Gerhenson’s) compatriots are really excited about it, especially because of some of the bad press it’s gotten.?
Common in some cooking oils, artificial trans fats have the effect of increasing ‘bad? cholesterol, reducing ‘good? cholesterol and boosting the risk of heart disease.
The New York City Board of Health recently banned city restaurants from using trans fats. City eateries must stop frying foods with oils containing trans fats by July 2006 and completely eliminate them from all the foods they serve by July 2008.
‘It’s one of those things that it’s common sense you know you should do it, but does government have the obligation of telling you you have to do it,? Jacobsen said. ‘How do you legislate common sense??
‘It’s a matter of individual rights. It’s hurting yourself, it’s not hurting anybody else. It’s not like your force feeding it to people,? the commissioner noted. ‘Individual rights have to take precedence over government telling you what to do all the time.?
Jacobsen questioned how banning trans fats would affect restaurant owners? overhead.
‘It’s an additional burden on our local business establishments that are struggling in the Michigan economy right now,? he said.
He said he read a blurb in another newspaper in which the owner of a string of high-end restaurants said it will cost him ‘three times? more to switch to a cooking oil without trans fats.
‘He can absorb that additional cost easier than the guy at the Coney Island who’s selling fries and a coney for $4.99,? Jacobsen said.
To their credit, Jacobsen said most restaurants seem to be voluntarily offering healthier choices to reflect consumer demand.
‘Most of them are trying to put healthier items on the menu,? he said. ‘Most of them are using less fats. Most of them are starting to convert to other types of frying materials — canola and peanut and sunflower (oils).?
As for the future of Gerhenson’s proposed trans fat ban, Jacobsen said, ‘My best guess is we will probably rework it into a recommendation to the state legislature to evaluate trans fats in our diet and see if they want to come up with an advisory on it or something like that.?