Today’s political rhetoric often involves the perceived dangers or benefits posed by big government, and various government interventions into people’s private lives are often met with much hostility. Recently, however, a new form of government control is being met with little resistance from either side of the political spectrum.
Last Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made public a proposal to ban artificially manufactured trans fats from all food products, effectively eliminating such fats from the food supply. Under this new program, partially hydrogenating oils into solid fats — the process by which trans fats arise — will result in products that the FDA would no longer designate fit for consumption. All products containing trans fats will be stripped of their “generally recognized as safe” labels.
Conservatives and liberals alike should appreciate the benefits created by the FDA. The FDA is responsible for regulating the quality and production of food products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, tobacco products, vaccines and scores of other products that can affect one’s health. It is indispensable for making sure that companies cannot knowingly cheat consumers with products of lesser quality or unforetold side effects, and is an important ally in enforcing public health initiatives—a characteristic that it reaffirmed last week.
If these proposals are seen to completion, they will be a tremendous public health victory. Granted, the general sentiment toward trans fats has been gradually changing. Many restaurants — most notably fast food chains — and other companies have sought to reduce the amount of trans fats found in their foods. That being said, trans fats are still abundantly used in food products, some of which are not even required to provide accurate nutritional facts. Currently, a company can claim that their products contain zero trans fats if those products have fewer than 0.5 grams of trans fats per serving. So, while companies may have worked hard to reduce the number of trans fats to meet those standards, consumers could still be ingesting food that is far unhealthier than reported. The new FDA regulations would eliminate such false advertising by ensuring that every product, not just those erroneously claiming zero grams, would be devoid of trans fats. Furthermore, banning trans fats would ensure that people all have an equal opportunity to choose between healthier items. Those who are faced with little choice in their food consumption — people whose finances limit their food purchases, for instance, or children in school — would no longer be forced to choose between cheaper foods that contain higher levels of trans fats. Doing away with trans fats universally would have positive health impacts for every level of society.
Restaurants and food producers may incur substantial costs to eliminate trans fats from their products. But those costs are an investment in the average American’s long-term health. Indeed, placing regulations on trans fats, though not implanted on such a large scale, has already been accomplished in various parts of the country such as California and New York City. Studies done on the New York City ban — which only ensured that restaurants eliminate trans fats in cooking and did not eliminate all food items containing trans fats — indicate that New Yorkers on average ingested 2.5 fewer grams of trans fats per restaurant meal. Imagine, then, the health benefits that could be reaped by ensuring that trans fats were eliminated for every food item that Americans eat. Eliminating trans fats is especially sensical given the drain that heart disease, obesity and obesity-related ailments have on our healthcare system.
These new regulations are also not measures that too strongly limit private consumption. If nothing else, illustrating the brief history shared by humans and trans fats can provide support for the FDA’s plans. Trans fats have only recently become a normal part of the human diet. Negligible amounts naturally occur in dairy and meat obtained from ruminant animals, but not in the levels that are added to many manufactured foods. Our bodies have not developed to process trans fats in the same way we are naturally occurring fats, and increased trans fat intake raises one’s chances of heart disease. Trans fats raise the levels of low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) while diminishing the amount of high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol). Thus, banning trans fats is a perfectly reasonable move. The government is not unduly imposing itself on consumers’ food choices — it is seeking to rectify an unhealthy, manmade food modification that serves no health benefits.
As of now, there have been no vehement objections to this new initiative, which is strange since other debates about food choices — such as healthier school lunches or genetically modified produce — have left people incensed. Nor does there seem to be the same opposition as whenever the FDA attempts to take on other sectors such as the tobacco or pharmaceutical industries. Backlash or not, the FDA’s strong stance against trans fats represents a government mandate that objectively benefits all Americans.
Alex Yahanda is an Associate Editor for the Cavalier Daily.
Read More
PARTING SHOT: Prides and joys
By Shaleah Tolliver | 7 hours agoI have seen what student journalism can do — it can highlight the marginalized, influence the majority and spark conversations.
PARTING SHOT: Failure does define you
By Grace Duregger | 7 hours agoFour years at the University have taught me what it means to make an impact despite setbacks.
PARTING SHOT: On fighting imposter syndrome and being cool
By Mary Kurbanov | YesterdayUltimately, though, I now know that success in a role is possible if deep-seated passion is the main source of motivation.
