Four Queens restaurants were recently slapped with fines for trans fat violations during routine inspections, placing them among the first establishments to be punished under new laws that require city eateries to switch to alternative oils, margarines and shortenings, the Department of Health said.
The city handed down fines, which ranged from $200 to $2,000, to four borough restaurants in early October, including Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant on 31st Street in Astoria, Rocco's Pizza on 21st Avenue in East Elmhurst, Little Guyana Bake Shop on Liberty Avenue in Jamaica and Good Fortune Coming Restaurant on Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, the DOH said.
A spokeswoman for the Health Department said compliance with the phase-out by city restaurants is at 96 percent. The grace period for restaurants ended on Oct. 1. The city inspected 94 percent of its restaurants between July 1 and Oct. 1, during which margarine was found to be the main problem for the violations issued, the DOH said.
Several eateries in Manhattan and Brooklyn were also issued fines, the Health Department said.
Several eateries in Manhattan and Brooklyn were also issued fines, the Health Department said.
