Baylen Linnekin on the FDA’s Proposed Trans Fat Ban

On
Thursday the FDA made the surprise announcement that it would move
to ban artificial trans fats, which are found in foods containing
partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. The ban would not apply to
naturally occurring trans fats, such as those found in meat and
dairy products. Adoption of the proposal, which is open to public
comment until Jan. 7, 2014, would mean that food producers who want
to use partially hydrogenated oils would first have to prove to the
FDA the safety of the ingredient. Considering that the FDA’s
announcement this week declared preemptively “that there is no safe
level of consumption of artificial trans fat,” notes Baylen
Linnekin, the burden of proof for future trans fat use would appear
to be quite high.

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