New York City baned Trans-fats about a year ago - paul mooney
I agree they shouldn’t , Unless of course the gov is going to get stuck paying the medical bills. Which in most cases these days they do. - Earl E Morningwood
It's not about telling us what to eat so much as tell restaurants to make healthier food. You can consume all of the transfats you want but not at a restaurant. :) - Todd Jordan
No one has any trouble with the government requiring companies to put 'do not consume' warning labels on thousands of products, how is this any different? The government is simply stating that this cannot be marketed as food, which it has done countless other times, sans comments about it on FF. I for one am glad that someone says "Hey, you can't sell that to people as food because it will hurt them." - Aaron Krug
No...this is not government's place. If customers had a problem with the foods served at restaurants, they'd stop buying....And it's not government's place to make people healthy...that's totally impossible...that's a choice that each individual must make for him/herself....if they even want to. - Chris Rossini
Chris - you assume consumers would know the difference and know what's good for them and not. I'm having a hard time imagining folks asking for more transfats in their food. - Todd Jordan
I don't think the government should get involved with this either. Alcohol's not too good for you either and look what happened when they tried to ban that last time... - Tad - just Tad
Look at this way who pays medicare? Issue like Banning Transfats and medicare expenditures growth an etc are somewhat related and how would you on an insurance policy state well you get a 10% discount for not using transfats? - Fred Grott
The government is stupid. How about banning Crack cocaine, meth etc etc and making sure that they clean the streets up first !! The first step to health and well being is ensure that the really bad shit is taken away. Throw the crack dealer and drug dealers into the pen for 25 yrs w/hard labor. Bring the chain gang back. - Peter Dawson
Walk into a burger king and look at the health information that have on the wall, conveniently located over by the sodas and condiments where you go "AFTER" you've ordered. Look at the huge amounts of salt that goes into everything. There is only one thing on the menu that might be good for you. Yet people still eat there everyday. It's sad, but people don't care about the food they stuff in themselves. I don't think the gov't should be telling us what to eat, and I think most american's don't know or care either. But, my taxes will be paying for other people's lack of concern over what they eat. - Jason Shultz via twhirl
There are a huge range of chemicals that are banned from being added to food and drink because they are harmful. You don't get to see the ingredients list when you buy restaurant food, so you can't make an informed decision. Furthermore, we already expect the government to enforce hygene standards in terms of cleanliness of the kitchen etc, so it's not like regulation of food preparation is something new. - Robin Barooah
That's stupid. We aren't infants. Chicago already got the foie gras ban lifted. I hope California gets a clue and lets people eat as stupidly as they want. - Rachel R.
Crack is already illegal btw. Lots of chemicals banned in foods, we just don't hear about it. If my insurance gave a discount for not eating transfats, I'd be all over it. Heck they give one for not smoking. - Todd Jordan
Todd, yes its illegal , but I still can't fathom where the priorities are being placed , thats all I was trying to point it. Banning transFat in theory is kewl, but in practice its a waste of tax payers $$4..who elected that gov in the first place ? you the citizen !! Thou shall reap what you sow. Vote stupid people to run your gov, yo'll get stupid laws being born !! - Peter Dawson
Trans fats, which incur enormous social costs, should be banned across the board. Excellent move in California. - Sean McBride
I like this move by California. I look at it in the same way I would look at banning open alcohol containers in cars or mandating seat belt usage. You do it because it would lessen the burden on the taxpayer and increase the level of public safety. To say it's none of the government's business is foolish, especially when said government has to turn around and increase taxes to offset the cost increases in Medicare later on because we complained about being treated like children. - Steven Perez
Steven, this is just one more reason why government shouldn't be paying for people's healthcare...it gives them an excuse to move in and regulate your diet....It's to no avail though, because controlling the diet of 300 million people is *way out there* in terms of possibility. - Chris Rossini
I agree with Chris. The government should be paying for people's healthcare and a lot of other things that it has taken upon itself in order to "take care of us." - Jason Shultz via twhirl
since when CA is populated with 300 millions? ;) - silpol
So there are a lot of food additives that have been banned because they are harmful, such as some food dyes. Transfats are basically the same thing. The only reason they are in use is because they're cheaper than fat alternatives that are much better for you (they also prolong the shelf-life of foods and therefore let companies make more money that way). I have as little problem with the government banning transfats as I do with them banning food dyes that are poisonous. - Lindsay Donaghe
@silpol - I was referring to the federal government there, of course :) - Chris Rossini
There are acceptable alternatives to trans-fats, and the risks in them being served are proven, so why not. - Duncan Riley
No this shouldn't be the roll of government, using capitalism (boycotting places that service trans-fats) and social networks (blogging and communications) should have been enough but I think Arnold is looking for some press beyond our state budget and the financial crisis we are in. - Jon Erickson
this whole thing is ridiculous... there's a TON of bad crap out there... read the dang label...censor your diet yourself; Govt shouldn't do that...lame. But it would be nice to have less crap like TF in food...sooo there's a need for control, just not keen on this approach - Susan Beebe
It's all a government game. They force seat belts here in FL but not motorcycle helmets. They ban transfats because they may give you heart disease and they have to "take care of us" but not cigarettes which are proven killers. It's just a game about money, lobbyists, and political monkey-business. - Jim Sewell
But, without the government telling me how to behave, I may behave improperly, or worse, I may do something original... - Jay Wiegmann
