Baltimore bans trans fats in restaurants

Baltimore Business Journal: With the March 27 signature of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, a bill that bans restaurants from serving foods made with trans fats became law. The Baltimore City Council unanimously voted March 18 to approve the bill, which will take effect fall 2009.

City Councilwoman Agnes Welch sponsored the bill as part of a larger effort to curb childhood obesity. The bill prohibits Baltimore restaurants from serving a food item that contains partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, such as vegetable shortening.

Baltimore's move follows the step taken by other cities, including Philadelphia and New York, which enacted similar bans on trans fat, which health officials say clogs arteries.