Calgary may be making history this week as the first Canadian city to ban trans fats in restaurants, but that doesn't mean eating out will soon become much healthier.
Some nutrition experts are concerned the massive push to eliminate trans fats in Calgary and across the country will convince consumers that it's suddenly better for them to indulge in greasy, fat-laden and other guilty-pleasure snack foods.
“This shouldn't be a ticket to eat large amounts of pastries and French fries,” said Sari Greaves, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the New York State Dietetic Association.
Some are warning that restaurants and food manufacturers may be using alternatives that are nearly as detrimental to health as artery-clogging trans fats.
“There is a potential that trans fats will be replaced with saturated fats, which are almost as bad as trans fats,” said Margaret Broughton, community nutritionist at Vancouver Coastal Health.
As of Jan. 1, Calgary restaurants are no longer allowed to cook with fats or oils in which trans fats make up more than 2 per cent of the total fat content.
The federal government has indicated that similar rules will be put in place across Canada over the next few years. New York became the first U.S. city to ban trans fats in restaurants last year.
