UPDATE:New York City Votes to Ban Trans Fats
In just a few hours-- the trans fat showdown begins in The Big Apple when the New York City Health Department issues its vote on eliminating them from city restaurants. CNBC’s Mary Thompson "cut through the fat" to give the details on “Squawk Box.”
The meeting begins at 10 a.m. ET, so word should come sometime this afternoon, whether NYC’s restaurants will need to cross trans fats off their menus over the next 18 months.
Trans fats are made when hydrogen's added to vegetable oil, extending its shelf life and improving its taste. Some common examples, shortening and margarine. Common food sources of trans fats include cookies, cakes and crackers and fried foods.
This would mean big changes for New York City's 26,000 restaurants, though some fast food chains including Wendys , Ruby Tuesdays and KFC are already or are going trans fat free.