[Rockingham]

Regulation of restaurants is a function of local government. Arguably, federal approval of trans fats in commercial foodstuffs preempts local regulation, but this may not be true as to restaurants, and federal policy is in flux anyway. The prime virtue of trans fats -- their shelf life for shipment and storage in processed foods -- is of minimal consequence in the restaurant setting. There will be court cases over the issue, I am sure.

[Mase]

The prime virtue of trans fats -- their shelf life for shipment and storage in processed foods -- is of minimal consequence in the restaurant setting.

Nonsense. TFA's also add texture/flavor, offer a higher melting point, greater stability under high temperatures and are lower in cost. There are many benefits to using TFA's that restaurants enjoy. In a restaurant setting, banning TFA's will ensure that oil becomes rancid more rapidly. Rancid fats contain high levels of free radicals. Cis fats are more susceptible to oxidation and therefore rancidity, than trans fats. You can bet that consumers will be ingesting a lot more free radicals due to this stupid legislation. How is that good for the public health?

All that without even beginning a discussion about personal freedom...or lack thereof.