State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, has filed a bill that would ban the sale of food with trans fats, the "bad"fats in items such as shortening and margarine that have been linked to high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke.
"Already, California, New York and McDonald's are moving to healthy diets,"Shapleigh said. "Texas should move to healthier lifestyles, too."
California was the first to pass a statewide ban on trans fats, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed in July. The ban will apply to restaurants starting in 2010 and to baked goods starting in 2011.
New York City passed a similar trans fat ban in 2006 that took effect this summer, and cities in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland have also ordered restaurants to cut out the fat.
Shapleigh said his measure, which will be up for debate during the legislative session that starts in January, was modeled after the California ban.
Starting in 2010, restaurants would be prohibited from packaging, storing or using trans fats to prepare or serve food.
The ban would apply to baked goods starting in 2011.
Serving up French fries cooked in trans fat-packed oils could result in fines of up to $200.
