Thursday, October 16, 2008

Trans Fat Truth In Labeling Act Should Not Die

There is a flaw in food labeling law that permits a manufacturer to represent that food containing less than .5 grams of trans fat per serving contains 0 trans fats. Where I come from, that is called prevaricating.

The Trans Fat Truth in Labeling Act of 2007 (HR 3783) "directs the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to promulgate a final regulation revising federal regulations applicable to the declaration of the trans fat content on a food label to require that if the trans fat content of a serving of a food is less than .5 grams and is declared in the nutrition information on the label or in the labeling of the food, such content shall be expressed through the use of an asterisk or other notation stating such content is less than .5 grams (instead of zero)."

This is an obvious fix and would give consumers accurate information about trans fats in food, especially food served to children. The resolution was introduced by Steve Israel (D-NY) but was referred to the Subcommittee on Health about a year ago.

Please contact your representative and ask him/her to co-sponsor this resolution and do whatever they can to move the resolution out of subcommittee. Don't let this important resolution die.

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