Beginning with the first day of July, all New York City restaurants and eateries must become trans fat-free, the New York City Health Department said.

Trans fats are synthetic or artificial fats, which are converted from natural forms of vegetable oil through a chemical process called partial hydrogenation. They are widely used in processed foods to give them unique texture and flavor and long shelf live. Also, trans-fats are widely present in foods served at restaurants.

Previous studies have linked trans fats with a series of diseases, including breast cancer and heart disease.

The New York City trans fat ban applies beginning with Tuesday to all bakeries, restaurants or eateries that prepare foods of any kind. All of them were given a three months grace period to comply with the new law. Starting with today, however, all restaurant not complying with the new law will face a $2,000 fine.

The law was first applied to all New York cooking oils last year.

Thomas Frieden, the New York City Health Commissioner, who has been the leader of the anti-trans fat initiative, said it is too soon to tell how many of the city’s establishments would be in compliance of the new law by Tuesday but , with only a few complaints, he has every reason to believe that everything is going extremely well.

Moreover, a statement released by the NYC health department read that “some food chains and cooking oil manufacturers have not only eliminated trans fat but also reduced saturated fat by 20 percent to 35 percent in certain fried foods, further boosting the health benefit for consumers,” Newsday reported.
 
Food service professional can access information on the new law at notransfatnyc.org.