AMA supports trans fat ban

Related tags Trans fats Trans fat

The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a new policy supporting legislation to ban the use of artificial trans fats in restaurants and bakeries across the US.

The association said the move was to help Americans maintain good health and lower the risk of heart disease, which is the nation's number one killer, potentially saving lives.

Previous AMA policy urged a reduction in the use of trans fats - proven to raise LDL (bad cholesterol), while lowering HDL (good cholesterol) - and encouraged replacing them with healthier fats and oil.

Commercial baked goods such as crackers, cookies and cakes, along with many fried foods, like french fries and doughnuts contain trans fats.

Mary Anne McCaffree, of the AMA, added that packaged foods must state on the label if they contain trans fats and highlighted the importance of reading nutritional labels carefully.

Major cities like Chicago and New York have already placed a ban on the use of trans fats in restaurants and bakeries.