Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - The push to ban artificial trans-fats from Louisville restaurants and food suppliers is taking another step forward. Wednesday the board of health released its report and recommended a mandatory ban on all artificial trans-fats. Now the department of health and wellness must make its recommendation to metro council.
Claudia Delatorre owns the Cake Flour bakery on East Market Street. She says she's already one step ahead of a ban on artificial trans fats because her shop has never used them. But she says she isn't sure the ban is for everyone.
"I think it would be difficult for a lot of people," says Delatorre.
The Board of Health says it's worth it. Wednesday they recommended a complete ban on on artificial trans fats in all restaurants and food suppliers in Metro Louisville -- that would include public and private schools.
"We're talking about things that are added -- additives," says Dr. Adewale Troutman, Director of the Metro Department of Health and Wellness. "These are things that are added to food to increase the shelf life of the food it's added to."
A report by the task force says artificial trans-fats are additives that produce bad cholesterol and nothing good. They say the elimination of the fat could lead to more than 400 fewer heart attacks every year and health care savings of up to $22 million a year in Louisville.
The board explored three options -- a mandatory ban on artificial trans-fats, a required labeling on menus, or a voluntary ban.
'I think the key is not to affect small businesses," says Delatorre. "We're in a hard enough economy. No one wants to take business from anybody else.'
The board settled on recommending a mandatory ban. Now it's up to the health department what steps they want to recommend to Metro Council. Dr. Troutman says it's "likely" he will also recommend a full ban.
The risk benefit analysis is clear," says Dr. Troutman. "The risk is far greater than the benefit. So in an ideal world, we would have no artificial trans fat in our food in the US. It's about how we get there."
Dr. Troutman likened it to the city's smoking ban because change doesn't come without controversy, but overall it is in everyone's best interest. They say the ban wouldn't have much effect on small businesses. In fact, they say the other cities and states that have enforced similar bans have not had any change in business.
For more information, the Department has established a website: www.transfatfreelouisville.com.
