Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
11/7/13 FDA Rules Trans Fats Unsafe in Food - WSJ.com
online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303309504579183652200663132?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories 1/3
U.S.
WSJ WSJ LIVE MARKETWATCH BARRON'S PORTFOLIO DJX THE SHOPS MORE UpdatedPrivacy Policy »
RAINER's Journal
U.S. NEWS
FDA Rules Trans Fats Unsafe in Food
U.S.Iran ThawGrew From Yearsof Behin...
1 of 12
FDA Rules Trans Fats Unsafe
2 of 12
Worried SenatorsPress Obama onHealth ...
3 of 12
Exchange SiteNeeds Hundreds ofFixes
4 of 12
Determination Could Lead to Ban in Baked Goods, Other Foods
Updated Nov. 7, 2013 11:29 a.m. ET
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday ruled for the first time that trans fatsaren't generally considered safe in foods, a sharp shift in policy that could lead to banningtrans fats in baked goods, refrigerated dough products, frosting and other foods.
Trans fats, or partially hydrogenized fats or oils, are considered a potential prime factor inleading to heart attacks and strokes, and the FDA specifically said it was taking thispreliminary step to protect the public's health.
"While consumption of potentially harmful artificial trans fat has declined over the last twodecades in the United States, current intake remains a significant publichealth concern,"said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg. "The FDA's action today is an importantstep toward protecting more Americans from the potential dangers of trans fat. Furtherreduction in the amount of trans fat in the American diet could prevent an additional 20,000heart attacks and 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year—a critical step in theprotection of Americans' health."
The agency said it would give food companies and other interested parties 60 days tocomment on the proposed action, which it said was based on scientific data.
At some point after that, the FDA will make a final ruling. Food companies will get a chanceduring that time to shape the FDA's thinking about how long it will take to remove theingredient from most products.
But both Commissioner Hamburg and Michael Taylor, the FDA's leading food official,seemed adamant about the general direction they plan to take: moving toward the ultimateremoval of trans fats from the American food supply.
Mr. Taylor said that in certain products, such as commercial cake icing, removing transfats appeared especially complex.
Studies have shown that a fiveyearold ban on the ingredient in restaurants in New YorkCity has been effective in lowering trans fat consumption in diets. The city's ban has beenregarded as influential in shaping thinking nationally about the ingredient.
The FDA never ruled officially that trans fats were safe. It simply didn't generally challengethat assertion when it was made over three decades by food companies that added transfats to their products.
"Trans fats have not before had their generallyregardedassafe status addressed by theFDA," Mr. Taylor said in an interview with reporters. But, he said, "the timeline [for a finalFDA decision] will be based on the comments we get."
Write to Thomas M. Burton at [email protected]
What's This?Popular Now
ARTICLES
VIDEO
Opinion: CarlSchramm: HowObamaCare RipsOff the 'YoungHealthies'
1
Opinion:Henninger:Obama's NegativeForce Field
2
Worried SenatorsPress Obama onHealth Law
3
Opinion: WilliamWhalen: Hillary2016 and the 'Waron Women' Trope
4
Opinion: Best of theWeb Today: TheWorst Is Yet toCome
5
Sen. Roberts
TOP STORIES IN U.S.
By THOMAS M. BURTON CONNECT
Email Print 102 Comments Save
Email Print 102 Comments Order Reprints Save
News, Quotes, Companies, Videos SEARCH
11/7/13 FDA Rules Trans Fats Unsafe in Food - WSJ.com
online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303309504579183652200663132?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories 2/3
Community rules
JOURNAL COMMUNITYAdd a Comment
Track replies to my comment
CLEAR POST
WSJ InDepth
Obama Launches Refi PlanIf you owe under $729k you may qualify for 3.05% APR Govt RefiPlans.www.SeeRefinanceRates.com
Warren Buffett ConfessesWarren Buffetts Shocking Confession Will Change your InvestingStrategywww.MarketTrendSignal.com
Public Arrest Records1) Enter Name and State. 2) Access Full Background ChecksInstantly.instantcheckmate.com
View All Comments (102)
All comments will display your real name. Start typing your comments here...
Content From Sponsors
Edmunds.com2013 Car Research & Reviews. Edmunds Empowers The AutoConsumer!www.Edmunds.com
Hey, Sick Of Acne Scars?How Would You Like To Never Have To Worry About Acne ScarsEver Again?ginaleskincare.com/clearacnescars
(1200%) Stock?If This $0.50 Stock Hits $6.00, $10,000 Will Turn Into $120,000.FinancierTimes.com
At Old Sites,Radioactive QuestionsLinger
Afghans Flee Homesas U.S. Pulls Back
Cities Use Sticks,Carrots to Rein InGangs
Inside the Nation'sBiggest Experiment inSchool Choice
Syrian Regime BlocksFood to Gassed Town
Prescribed: APersonalized Tour of'Obamacare'
Repeats Requestfor Sebelius toResign
1
Sleeping in theSlammer
2
Five Cars theRichest AmericansAre Buying
3
Five Things PlasticSurgeons Won't TellYou
4
Go Away, NSA!Smartphone AppsEncrypt Calls, Texts
5
What's This?
Craving Pizza? Try This 4Ingredient Wonder DishBetty Crocker
What is Gaucher's Disease andWhy Should know itHealth Central
5 Ways to Spot Skin CancerA Bullseye View
Will JPMorgan ever settle?Fox Business
Wall Stree JournalFacebookTwitter LinkedInFourSquareGoogle+YouTubePodcastsRSS Feed AppStore
11/7/13 FDA Rules Trans Fats Unsafe in Food - WSJ.com
online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303309504579183652200663132?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories 3/3
Back to Top
Customer Service
Customer Center
New! Live Help
Contact Us
WSJ Weekend
Contact Directory
Corrections
Policy
Privacy Policy Updated10/26/13
Cookie Policy
Data Policy
Copyright Policy
Subscriber Agreement& Terms of Use
Your Ad Choices
Ads
Advertise
Place a Classified Ad
Sell Your Home
Sell Your Business
Commercial Real Estate Ads
Recruitment & Career Ads
Franchising
Advertise Locally
Tools & Features
Apps
Emails & Alerts
Graphics & Photos
Columns
Topics
Guides
Portfolio
Old Portfolio
More
Reprints
Content Partnerships
Conferences
SafeHouse
Mobile Site
Price & Volume
Keyword & Symbol
News Archive
Jobs at WSJ Copyright ©2013 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
