NY Residents: Help Get Trans Fat Out of Restaurants

As a resident of New York, please send a message to your state representatives in support of Senator Hannon’s bill, S.7733, and Assemblyman Ortiz’ bill, A. 9031, that would phase out trans fat from restaurants and protect New York citizens from heart disease and premature death.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I am a resident of your district and strongly support Senator Hannon and Assemblyman Ortiz' bills (S.7733/A.9031), that would phase out artificial trans fat in New York restaurants and other food-service facilities. I urge you to support this bill.

Trans fat increases blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, the number-one cause of death for Americans. In 2006, Harvard researchers estimated that each year trans fat was causing 72,000 to 228,000 heart attacks, including roughly 50,000 fatal ones. For every year that New York waits to ban trans fat from restaurants, hundreds or thousands of residents will suffer fatal and non-fatal heart attacks. Those illnesses and deaths are unnecessary, and many could be prevented by passage of S. 7733/A. 9031.

Since January 2006, almost all packaged foods have been required to list the trans fat content on their Nutrition Facts labels. However, restaurants are exempt from such disclosure. Yet, New York residents are getting about one-third of their calories from restaurants and cafeterias, and many such foods contain high levels of trans fat. For instance, a KFC Chicken Pot Pie contains 14 grams of trans fat-7 times the daily maximum intake!

New York City and Nassau, Westchester, and Albany counties have already passed trans fat phase-outs in restaurants. Residents of those areas can now rest assured that the food they are eating in restaurants is a bit healthier. Shouldn't all of New York's residents be entitled to that healthier food?

According to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), supplies of alternative, healthier oils have vastly increased over the last several years, and industry has the capability of meeting the needs as the demand increases.

Phasing out trans fat from New York restaurants is an important way to protect New Yorkers and visitors from heart disease and premature death. Please let me know if you will support this bill.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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