Baylen Linnekin on the FDA's Proposed Trans Fat Ban

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On Thursday the FDA made the surprise announcement that it would move to ban artificial trans fats, which are found in foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. The ban would not apply to naturally occurring trans fats, such as those found in meat and dairy products. Adoption of the proposal, which is open to public comment until Jan. 7, 2014, would mean that food producers who want to use partially hydrogenated oils would first have to prove to the FDA the safety of the ingredient. Considering that the FDA's announcement this week declared preemptively "that there is no safe level of consumption of artificial trans fat," notes Baylen Linnekin, the burden of proof for future trans fat use would appear to be quite high.