COUNTY ORDERS STUDY OF BAN ON TRANS FATS.

Byline: TROY ANDERSON Staff Writer

In the latest attack on everything from greasy french fries to artery- clogging doughnuts, Los Angeles County supervisors directed public health officials Tuesday to study whether the county should ban artificial trans fats in county restaurants.

The move comes just months after the Los Angeles City Council also moved to study the issue and New York City voted to require its restaurants to prepare their fried foods and baked goods with more healthful oils and fats.

``I'm very concerned about the whole trans-fat issue,'' Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke said. ``Every time I buy something, I look to see if it has trans fat. I don't want to get high blood pressure or a heart condition that trans fat can cause.

``I'm also concerned about all these young people eating muffins, hamburger buns, fast food and french fries with trans fat. They are ballooning up. Obesity is such a terrible problem.''

Under the county plan, public health officials will review the issue with the restaurant industry and community health organizations. County officials also will review whether the county can regulate trans fats at restaurants countywide or just in unincorporated areas.

The county Department of Public Health serves all of the region's 10 million residents except those living in Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own public health departments.

Jot Condie, president of the 22,000-member California Restaurant Association, said he's encouraged that the supervisors have not jumped to conclusions.

``We happen to think that banning an item widely used in households -- that only accounts for 3 percent of the average American diet -- has more cons than pros, but we are open to suggestions,'' Condie said.

``But once you start banning products because it's viewed as unhealthful it puts us on a slippery slope. What's next? Butter, cheese or anything that has saturated fat, which accounts for 15 percent of the average American diet, and also is not healthy, but that also needs to be taken in moderation.''

At Cosmos Grill & Rotisserie in Calabasas, Assistant Manager Lyndsey Thomson said she thinks banning trans fats at restaurants is a good idea.

``It probably would be hard for it to be completely banned, but I think it would be beneficial for people who are obese and unhealthy, especially here in California where we have people who are not in the greatest physical shape,'' Thomson said.

The newly created Nutrition and Physical Activity Task Force will complete its report by Jan. 30.

The move to ban trans fats in restaurants follows a Food and Drug Administration ruling in January 2006 requiring trans-fat content to be listed on all packaged foods.

Late last year, the New York City Board of Health voted to ban trans fats in city restaurants and require food labels on menus at all chain restaurants that already provide calorie information.

In December, the Los Angeles City Council asked for a report on how the council could restrict trans fat in L.A.'s restaurants.

``It appears clear that trans fat is injurious to human health and is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease,'' said Department of Public Health Director Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding.

``Trans fat increases bad cholesterol and reduces good cholesterol. And so it has implications for the amount of plaque in arteries. If we could reduce the intake of trans fat by whatever means, it would decrease cardiovascular disease, which is the No. 1 killer in Los Angeles County.''

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

[phone]