Artificial Trans Fat Ban in New York City Essay

Taking trans fats, sugars, and other unhealthy products out of foods in America could cause people to eat healthier and make better food choices. According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, more than 50% of adults are overweight and one in five kindergarten children students are obese. Many food manufacturers may argue that trans fats and sugars do not have that big of an affect on the nation; however, trans fats/sugars cause children to be obese at an early age and adults to be obese too. Even though foods containing sugars and trans fats are delicious, the government should regulate what we eat because foods and drinks containing those sugars and trans fats are unhealthy, they can stop certain individuals on the verge of becoming obese not become obese, and not everyone makes the right choices.

One reason is that it can prevent obesity. In “should the government regulate what we eat and drink” Bert Glass explains how “advocates that support the ban on trans fat are quick to point out the negative health effects of consuming food prepared with the banned item. He also states that, “trans fats can raise our level of “bad” cholesterol while also lowering our “good” cholesterol levels, both of which contribute to heart disease. In the text Bert gives an example of what trans fat can do and how it can affect our body. He also talks about how trans fat can contribute to heart disease which is a disease nobody wants to get.

Clearly it is not hard to notice that a multitude of people seen on a daily basis are either overweight or obese. Even though it may not be as noticeable, there is also a large percent of the population with other fast food related illnesses. Diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and dietary disorders have all been contributed to

In the 21 century, people are suffering from all kinds of diseases and over 85% of them are caused by, an unhealthy, diet. In the United States, 25% of Americans eat fast food every day, which can cause heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, starting with overweight. McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Burger King are very popular, fast food restaurant selling their burgers and fries in the airport, street shop, next to Wal-Mart and college.

This regulation is necessary in order to increase awareness of what individuals eat. Bent Glass argues in "Should the Government Regulate What We Eat?" that "the support of the ban on trans fats are quick to point out the negative health effects of consuming food prepared with the banned item." Many restaurants are putting the amount of calories on their food menus. However, many Americans just keep eating the food because of its quality and flavor, been conscious of how many calories it contains. This clearly demonstrates the importance of the regulation necessary to maintain individuals in a safe environment.

It is the United States Government’s responsibility to value public health and attempt to remedy the problem of obesity. Although obesity is clearly a problem in America, the government has yet to play a key role in being a part of the solution. The government has the power and the resources to improve public health, yet it allows the food industry to continue with harmful and deceitful practices. If the government does choose to impose stricter regulations on the food industry, it will be faced with many challenges. The government must find ways to regulate the food industry that will decrease instances of obesity, without making Americans feel like they are losing their freedom to choose what they want to eat.

New York has become the first city to require chain restaurants to post calorie counts on their meus and to ban trans fats

In every company, they deal with internal and external factors that affect every day business. External factors include oil price change, new laws and regulations for building codes, food distribution and many more. Companies that wish to succeed in their business should try and anticipate these internal and external factors. By identifying a companies opportunities and threats, a company can protect themselves from future harm and take advantage of opportunities that they have prepared for. Analyzing the opportunities and threats can be crucial for a company to turn a profit, expand the company across the country, and bring in and keep new and old customers.

Trans fatty acids is a kind of unsaturated fatty acid, and it is called trans-fat when it is combined with glycerin. Trans-fats are divided two kinds that are Naturally-occurring trans-fats and artificial trans-fats. Artificial trans-fats are made when hydrogen is added to vegetable oils. In November 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that it is not safety when people use partially hydrogenated oils in food.

We as Americans live in a nation that has succumbed to the obesity epidemic. Research shows that “Over the past 25 years, U.S. obesity prevalence has doubled, and Americans are consuming more meals away from home” (Auchincloss). Civilians are eating foods that are driving them on a path towards high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer without them even realizing it. The main benefactor of these diseases are said to be chain restaurants who are feeding individuals food that could possibly be detrimental to their health and shorten their lifespans. About six years ago, Philadelphia passed a law called the Menu Labeling Law that made it necessary for all chain restaurants with fifteen or more outlets to provide nutritional information about the food they serve to their customers in hopes of combatting this epidemic. “According to statistics from the mayor’s office, in 2008 64 percent of adults and 57 percent of children in Philadelphia were overweight or obese” (Mayes). These statistics are astounding to even grasp. Many businesses took this law as something that would harm their profits while the government believed it would sway the obesity rates to the smaller side of the spectrum, but when it came to health it was what people needed to steer them in the right direction. One chain restaurant in particular that must follow this law is the Subway right on Liacouras walkway. In relation to health this law serves as a

The availability of these restaurants and the willingness to consume food from them is allowing our bodies to ingest one major ingredient that is poorly absorbed in our bodies, and that is trans fats. Trans fats, properly known as trans fatty acids are an unsaturated fatty acid found in some vegetable oils (Merrium-Webster, 2015). These trans fatty acids are found in fast food, biscuits, cakes, frozen pizza, and microwave popcorn among many other commonly consumed foods. Fast food restaurants use these trans fatty acids with other oils to deep fry food that allows food to “taste good” or be more desirable. These trans fats are thought to generate a higher amount of stomach and abdominal fat and are also known to raise LDL cholesterol and cause additional health problems (Astrup, Dyerberg, Selleck, & Stender, 2008). Another leading cause of poor nutrition in the United States is portion size. Portion sizes vary all over the world and even from our homes to the restaurant. The bigger the portion size the more people feel like they have to eat. This feeling causes them to eat more than they need to be fulfilled and more calories consumed than needed for the body to run. Generally if people don’t eat all of their food they feel like they are being wasteful and they continue to eat even after they are full (Astrup, Dyerberg, Selleck, & Stender, 2008). One major problem with this is the amount of food being consumed. People have to be able to know

Perhaps the most beneficial of these policies are labeling laws. Some may think they are unnecessary, but nutritional labels are incredibly useful to those desiring a healthful lifestyle. Without them, people blindly select harmful foods. Studies have shown that almost 50% of people that eat at fast food restaurants use the nutritional information given to them, proving that this material can be extremely useful in regulating unhealthy foods. This information gives consumers the opportunity to select a rewarding option; one that both complements their busy schedules and helps their bodies function to the fullest extent. It is recommended that people consume between 1,000 and 2,000 calories daily; a delicate balance that requires constant attentiveness. If customers are not given the tools to be vigilant, then caloric intake will sky-rocket. Many consumers are blind to the fact that a single whopper contains 630 calories. That is about one third of the suggested daily intake. Once enlightened with facts such as these, some may wish to adopt better habits, and will have the resources to begin that transformation. Not only is regulation informing the public on how to make healthy decisions, but it also provides alternative, more nourishing options. One example of this would be the efforts of New York City. During the summer of 2008, they made a calculated decision to omit trans fat from their

Fast food is responsible for the increase of obesity rates in Western nations. In order to curb obesity rates, government regulation from the local level is necessary. The fast food corporations are responsible for the obesity epidemic because they make false health claims about their food and market heavily to children. But critics of regulation state that individuals, along with their food choices are responsible for the obesity epidemic. But regulation proponents believe that fast food needs regulation because of high obesity rates in poor inner city neighborhoods. In order to curb current obesity rates, local governments must intervene by implementing fast food regulations.

The idea of implementing Fat Tax on junk food in the U.S. has been in the works for quite some time. California is first in the nation to implement the “fat tax”. This tax will be applied to any items containing more than 2.3% saturated fat, including, dairy products such as cheese and milk, processed foods, pizza, soda, and candy. The purpose of such a tax is to deter consumers from purchasing these unhealthy foods and lower the obesity rate. According to Ogden, Carroll, Kit and Flegal (2014), “prevalence of obesity in the United States is high, with one-third of adults and 17% of children obese” (“Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in the United States”, 2014).The number of obese children is alarming, albeit, significant measures have been taken in schools to provide healthier meals. Unfortunately, there is little guidance when it comes to food choices at home. Fat tax on junk food will provide consumers with the guidance and encouragement needed to make healthier food choices.

Traditionally, the fast food industry has been associated with the cause of this health-related issue (Boyle 2004). Major fast food companies have been called to Federal Government summits to improve the quality of junk food (Wright 2007). While most of these major companies have now taken