NYC bans trans fats

[KevinTheOmnivore]

kahl, I would personally love to avoid transfats. I would also love to make that decision on my own.

It's not about the inconvenience. You're right, it isn't a huge deal (although I see this hurting mom and pop delis and bakeries in the city, at least initially. Apparently canola oil is a comparable sub pricewise).

It's about the government, in this case a city government, deciding what people should and shouldn't eat. Much like the smoking ban, I'm sort of torn on the matter. in the long run, I know I'll be fine with it. But isn't that the problem with government incrementalism? The reason the FDA can't outright ban trans fats is because corporations would go nuts. NYC can do it, excluding packaged goods, because it's more feasible on a smaller scale. Fewer private interests to appease in the process.

And since i think the limitations on drug use are mostly pretty dumb too, you'll have a hard time selling me on a cheeseburger/heroin comparison.