New York Bans Trans Fat

On December 5th, 2006 New York became the first state in the nation to ban trans fats in its restaurants. I don't live in New York, nor do I ever eat there. However, I am unnerved by the possibility that this bullshit measure could possible spread to other, more proximal states. I'd like to choose what I put in my body, regardless of what others think is healthy for me, thank you very much.

For those who don't know, trans fats are fatty acids that occur naturally in small quantities in certain foods, meat especially. However, in our inflating world of processed food, trans fats are manufactured in larger quantities in hydrogenated oils used in frying and cooking food (particularly in fast food establishments). Trans fats are not essential fatty acids and consumption of them can increase the risk of coronary heart disease and increase of arterial plaque.

Due to a public outcry over the effects of trans fats on public health, New York recently adopted the sweeping measure of banning trans fats entirely from its restaurants. Many people are lauding this measure as something that was long overdue. One New Yorker stated "I don't care about what might be politically correct or not. I want to live longer!" This kind of mentality is just about the most laughable stock of misdirection this side of…well a lot of things. In my humble opinion, you are admitting that you are a lazy jackass if you feel the need for a law to be put in place to remove a food ingredient from state restaurants.

I like greasy food. Every once and a while I indulge in a bagful of burgers from MacDonald's or a bucket of greasy chicken from KFC. To me, eating fast food and food high in trans fat is like going out to a bar and drinking some brews. Alcohol is certainly not good for my liver in the long run, but is that going to stop me from occasionally getting wasted? Hell no. It is my choice to occasionally impede my health for the sake of entertainment or diversion. If trans fat can make greasy food taste as heavenly as it does, then I'll gladly run a damn mile to burn the stuff out of my arteries if it's that bad.

The fact remains that the information IS available concerning which foods contain trans fats. In terms of fast food restaurants, many chains have been forced to either post the nutritional information of their food products on the restaurant walls, or stamp it on the food packaging. In MacDonald's, I remember seeing a big board containing nutritional information on all the food served there. I was giddy at the prospect of learning how many calories I was going to be stuffing in my system after chowing on a Big Mac. I wasn't too concerned about using the information to sway my choices based on nutritional ethics. The point is, the information is THERE. If individuals are concerned about their health, they can read this information in the restaurant, on the internet, on the packaging. If you are in a sit-down restaurant and are wondering if a certain item on the menu is cooked in oil that contains trans fat, then just ask the damn waiter. It's their job to make the customer's eating experience more fulfilling. If they can ramble on about the virtues of shrimp poppers, then they can damn well answer a question about how a food is cooked. If you're too embarrassed to ask, then just order a freaking vegetarian dish. The cook isn't going to spooge in your food if you inquire as to how it's cooked.

I am a United States citizen. By eating a bigass burger, I am not hurting anybody else, though I might be hurting myself. Does that stop me? No, because I approach foods that contain trans fats like anything else that could potentially harm me: with moderation. Is it fair to the moderate eaters to completely remove a food ingredient from a state just because individuals are too apathetic to take a keen enough interest about what goes into their bodies? Well, answer that for yourselves before a similar measure is proposed in your state. Meanwhile, I'll be eating my unhealthy chicken in a blissful state of self-choice.