After I Polish Off This Eclair I'll Tell You Why We Need to Ban Trans Fats

David Weigel | October 11, 2007

The Philadelphia Metro reports from a city council meeting on amending the local trans fat ban to let small bakeries off the hook. It's amusing for many reasons, not least of which the magical journey of hypocrisy undertaken by Councilman Juan Ramos.

- Councilman Juan Ramos: "Philadelphia is nationally known as a trans fat-free city, this amendment would create confusion across the country."

- Ramos, again: "This legislation [banning trans fat] not only attracts customers to our city's restaurants, but also saves lives!"

- Ramos, who is adamantly for the ban on trans fat and having the bakeries follow it, admitted to patronizing each bakery represented at the hearing at least twice each in a long speech about how much he loves their food. This caused Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, who sponsored the amendment to the ban, to pipe in and say, "What you're saying is you're willing to amend it then, right?" Ramos: "What I'm saying is, I like the cakes."

Yes, lots of people like the cakes. That's the point.

(Via Fark.)

Comments

|10.11.07 @ 2:23PM|#

Yeah, that's what Philly is known nationally for...

"Philadelphia Trans-fat Freedom"

stuartl|10.11.07 @ 2:23PM|#

There are no penalties or fines involved with violating the ban on trans fat in Philadelphia. Seriously, nothing.

I guess my "Whiz, wit" is safe.

|10.11.07 @ 2:28PM|#

Yes, lots of people like the cakes. That's the point.

That's the point? I don't think that's ever been in dispute. People like a lot of things that are bad for them.

VM|10.11.07 @ 2:32PM|#

DanT: yes, but it's kinda typical human nature (or political animal) what Ramos is doing...

|10.11.07 @ 2:32PM|#

Chew as I say, not as I chew!

|10.11.07 @ 2:34PM|#

Let them eat bread, so long as I have yummy cake. Damned rabble, get away from my bakery!

|10.11.07 @ 2:35PM|#

People like a lot of things that are bad for them.
Like being blue-nosed busybody authoritarian prigs? Oh, wait...that's just bad for everyone else.

VM|10.11.07 @ 2:37PM|#

Philadelphia: Brotherly Love so friendly that we'll take your Whiz for you...

(thanks, StuartL)

|10.11.07 @ 2:40PM|#

Sad/funny thing is, Whiz is not really even classified as cheese, and therefore contains no transfats, so... Cheessteak with is ok, Boston Cream donut not ok.
Welcome to Philly!

|10.11.07 @ 2:52PM|#

I would be interested in having all the bakeries in Philly put out a little sign at the counter: "Trans fat free pastries available" and see how many folks really care enough to ask for them.

Better still, open a bakery called "TRANS-FREE" bakery right next to City Hall, then get on local TV, say how you expect all the City officials, especially the Council members and their families, to shop there regularly.

The saddest thing is, doesn't the City Council have better things to do?

|10.11.07 @ 3:04PM|#

C'mon guys. Let's give social engineering at least one chance!

|10.11.07 @ 3:04PM|#

Douglas Gray-The really sad thing is that come election time, people will not think, "Hey, here's that asshole who took my tasty doughnuts." They will, instead, vote for the incumbent because they have a vague, but warm and fuzzy, feeling that their councilperson cares about them. And, of course, the children.

|10.11.07 @ 3:05PM|#

And now I'm craving a doughnut. And I don't even have a sweet tooth.

|10.11.07 @ 3:09PM|#

Mmmmm..... forbidden donut.

Thomas Paine\'s Goiter|10.11.07 @ 3:22PM|#

Does this mean Tastykake has to leave Philly?

Joshua Holmes|10.11.07 @ 3:46PM|#

Save our nation's health. Return to lard!

stuartl|10.11.07 @ 4:22PM|#

Sad/funny thing is, Whiz is not really even classified as cheese, and therefore contains no transfats, so...

I thought the reason philly cheese steaks are so good was that they are fried in coconut oil....which theaters don't use anymore because CSPI said it isn't healthy. Oh wait, coconut oil doesn't have much transfat so it is good.

Help me food nazis, I'm so confused. Please make all my decisions for me.

|10.11.07 @ 5:26PM|#

If it wasn't for trans-fats, we'd all be thin and live to 110.

At least, that's what my fortune cookie said last night.

|10.11.07 @ 8:02PM|#

Government-Let people make their own decisions if they don't commit force or fraud!

My fellow libertarians and joe- Don't eat things with trans fats (aka partially hydrogenated oils). They are quite harmful. Read labels, and if it says it has them in the products, don't buy em!

|10.11.07 @ 8:16PM|#

I don't know if you realize this, but cakes can be made without trans fats. Deliciously, at that. As they always had been before cost-saving artificial trans fats were invented.

Paul|10.12.07 @ 2:22AM|#

"This legislation [banning trans fat] not only attracts customers to our city's restaurants, but also saves lives!"

Prove it.

|10.12.07 @ 8:30AM|#

Wow, Captain Chaos, at 2:35 PM you deliver a withering riposte to Dan T's claim that, left on their own, people often make bad choices. Then at 3:04 PM you complain that, left on their own, people often make bad choices.

Enjoy that doughnut.

|10.12.07 @ 10:15AM|#

That's the point? I don't think that's ever been in dispute. People like a lot of things that are bad for them.

Like trolling, for instance.

|10.12.07 @ 11:04AM|#

I am not even the biggest cheesesteak fan, at least for a Philadelphian. If this ban changes the roast pork at John's or the chicken cutlet at Tony Luke's, then so help me. . .

Jennifer Emick|10.12.07 @ 9:11PM|#

"That's the point."

Hardly. Trans fats are nasty tasting, cheap substitutes for better tasting, healthier fats-regardless of idealogical position.

I'm selfish, myself. I would like the nasty stuff banned, so I can eat pastry made with actual butter instead of crisco!

|10.13.07 @ 3:17AM|#

Just reading this makes me want to leave the West Coast and jump on the first plane back to my fine, crime-ridden hometown of Philly! Screw the organic foods, veggie fare, etc. that I consume now. Face it. That trans fat stuff taste pretty darn good! ;-)