Calgary moves against trans fats

The Calgary region is to become the first in the country to require restaurants to cut the use of trans fats, suspected of killing up to 5,000 Canadiansa year from heart disease.

Starting Jan. 1,the regional health authority — which serves more than 1.2 million people — will require thatall margarines, spreads made with margarine and oils used for cooking contain a maximum of two per cent trans fats of the total fat content.

The health consequences made it imperative that the Calgary Health Region act now, said Dr. Brent Friesen, medical officer of health.

Trans fats raise the levels of low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, in the body and can lead to clogged arteries and heart disease.

The Heart & Stroke Foundation has estimated thatconsumption of trans fats accounts for 3,000 to 5,000 deaths in Canada a year.

Calgary Health Region is using the line, "Have you changed your oil yet?" to promote the change. It saidit's the firstto demand lower trans fat levels, but the federal government has said it will move to create national limits in 2009 unlessindustry makes "significant progress" in cutting the fats.

A majority of 400 Calgary restaurants surveyed have already made the switch to oils that meet the new requirements, and two-thirds already use acceptable spreads, the health region said.

But it hasn't been without some issues.

"When we first changed, you know the customers did complain because it doesn't taste as good as before," said Rick Man of the Treasures of China restaurant.

But now,diners are used to it. "I think they're worried more about their health than they worry about the taste."

And some chain restaurants are waiting for national plans from head offices, Friesen said.

Calgary food inspectors will issue warnings for the first five months to give restaurants time to adjust. After that,violations will be posted on the health region's website and, in extreme cases, the city could shut down restaurants that don't comply.