Family News

The governor recently passed a series of new bills, one of which will prohibit the selling of trans fatty foods in vending machines and through outside vendors at all California public schools, grades K-12.

The bill, SB 490, was proposed by Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose). Alquist is a former educator/health advocate who believes that children need to be taught healthy lifestyle habits early on.

Trans fats have gained hype over the past 10 years after the FDA required manufacturers to include “trans fat” content on nutrition labels. Trans fats facts are located below saturated fat. Trans fat is an acid made through the chemical process of hydrogenating oil. Hydrogenation solidifies liquid oils to increase shelf life and lock in the flavor of food. Trans fats are typically found in shortening, crackers, cookies and other snack foods.  

Ingesting trans fats has several physical repercussions. The first is that it drives up “bad” cholesterol. It also increases the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Given that trans fats were originally used to make candles, prohibiting the distribution of foods that include this substance may prompt an all-around improvement in our children’s health. The bill is effective July 1, 2009.

– By Kathleen Crain