Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
AMENDED SUBSTITUTE - That the City of Madison encourages all local restaurants and food service providers to voluntarily remove trans fat from their products, and urges the State Legislature to consider banning the use of trans fat by food service providers in state facilities.
Body
WHEREAS, for the purpose of this resolution trans fat is defined exclusively as artificial trans fat created by the process of partial hydrogenation, and does not include naturally occurring trans fat found in animal products.; and
WHEREAS, trans fat poses a real risk to Madison residents. The AThe Harvard School of Medicine published the study "Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease" in April 2006, showing that the elimination of trans fat would prevent between 72,000 and 228,000 heart attacks each year, accounting for 6-19% of all annual heart attacks. The World Health Organization, the American Heart Association, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also recognize the extreme danger of trans fat study concludes that "complete or near-complete avoidance of industrially produced trans fatsÂ… may be necessary to avoid adverse effects and would be prudent to minimize health risksÂ…" and the FDA recommends reducing trans fat intake to "less than 1 percent of energy (2 g per day for a 2,000 calorie diet)"published the study "Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease" in April 2006, showing that the elimination of trans fat would prevent between 72,000 and 228,000 heart attacks each year, accounting for 6-19% of all annual heart attacks. The World Health Organization, the American Heart Association, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also recognize the extreme danger of trans fat; and
WHEREAS, it is increasingly easy to replace trans fat with healthier alternatives; and
WHEREAS, trans fat presents a unique risk to consumer health. Unlike other types of food, there is no safe level of trans fat intake according to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine. Trans fat is an unnecessary environmental hazard, similar to asbestos or lead paint.
WHEREAS, trans fat is replaceable. The elimination of trans fat by producers in many of their products following 2006 regulation by the FDA to include trans fat in nutritional information demonstrated that trans fat is replaceable and that the government can facilitate the removal of trans fat by means other than an outright ban; and
WHEREAS, trans fat presents a unique risk to consumer health. Unlike other types of food, there is no safe level of trans fat intake according to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine. Trans fat is an unnecessary environmental hazard, similar to asbestos or lead paint; and
WHEREAS, trans fat is replaceable. The elimination of trans fat by producers in many of their products following 2006 regulation by the FDA to include trans fat in nutritional information demonstrated that trans fat is replaceable, and that the government can facilitate the removal of trans fat by means other than an outright ban; and
WHEREAS, a voluntary system for removing trans fat is preferable to a ban.a voluntary system for removing trans fat is preferable to a ban. The changeover to healthier oil can be incentivized by an award system, allowing qualifying restaurants to place "low trans fat" awards in their windows. The work for creating such an award system has already been done by local public interest group Informed Consumers Equal Improved Health. Such a system would allow restaurants to demonstrate that they are working towards eliminating trans fat; and
WHEREAS, Madison is known as one of the most livable cities in America, and can enhance this image by being one of the first cities to reduce the use of trans fat in partnership with business owners instead of using a ban; and
WHEREAS, banning the use of trans fat in state facilities is materially different than a ban in the private sector. To the extent that the state must provide healthy products in its own facilities and that it must set a good example for the private sectorTo the extent that the state must provide healthy products in its own facilities and that it must set a good example for the private sector, the state of Wisconsin must consider removing artificial trans fat from all state facilities has a responsibility to ensure the health of the people that it serves, including school children and hospital patients who have limited freedom to choose what they consumemust consider removing artificial trans fat from all state facilities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council asks encouragesasks all Madison area restaurants and food service providers to voluntarily remove trans fat from their establishments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council urges the Wisconsin Congressional DelegationState Legislature to consider a measure banning food services from using trans fat in state, county, and city buildings, including schools, hospitals, and offices.