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Serving the Town of Stamford, Connecticut
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blevine@thestamfordtimes.com
STAMFORD — The health department's ordinance to ban trans fat from cooking oils at licensed food establishments and school cafeterias was passed into law Monday night.
The ordinance, which was submitted by Health Director Dr. Johnnie Lee, was passed by the board of representatives, 22-12, at its April 7 meeting. The ban will take effect starting July 1.
The health department's newly minted ordinance will allow city health inspectors to fine (up to $90) or suspend the operating licenses of food establishments found with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (also known as trans fats) in their kitchens.
The city's public safety and health committee held a public hearing in late March to discuss the ordinance. However, no one from the public attended the meeting. At last months regular board meeting, Rep. Richard Lyons II, D-1, said he had not heard any opposition to the ordinance from the approximately 650 city licensed establishments. Lyons has also said notices explaining the new ordinance were mailed to proprietors earlier this year.
Trans fats are found in some shortenings, cookies, crackers and fried food. Health experts say that high intake of trans fats can lead to high cholesterol and heart disease.
However, not all representatives believe banning trans fats is the proper step for the city's legislative body to take.
"I'm going to vote against this, not because I am for people eating trans fat, but because I feel that government should not be legislating people's lives period," said Rep. Joseph Coppola, R-15.