New York City's Board of Health is in the process of making the Big Apple the first city to bans artery-clogging trans fats, from small bakeries to restaurant chains. In 2006 the Board voted unanimously to eliminate trans fats, following the lead of small town Tiburon, California where harmful trans fats were eliminated from all foods in the city's restaurants in 2004. To comply with the New York ban, no frying oils or spreads with trans fats can be used in city restaurants, bakeries, even catering services by the end of the month. Use of all other trans fats will be eliminated by July 2008.

The Board is also requiring all restaurants that disclose nutritional information to include the calorie count of all items on their menu, a regulation that will affect restaurant chains.

Artery-clogging trans fats are widely considered the most dangerous dietary fat. Trans fats increase LDL, "bad," cholesterol as they simultaneously decreases HDL, "good," cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease. While meat and diary products contain small amounts of naturally occurring trans fats, most of the trans fats in our diet are artificial. They are often found in products like cakes, cookies, potato chips, microwave popcorn, and margarines.

New York seems to setting the pace for a trans fat free future. In California, the Assembly Community on Health approved a bill which may make California the first state to ban trans fats on a state-wide level.

Nationwide, the several food chains are also cutting the trans fats. Wendy's led the way, eliminating trans fats from their products in August 2006. Rubio's announced today that by mid-August they will use trans fat free oil in the preparation of all foods on their menu. Burger King also recently announced that they will be totally trans fat free by the end of 2008. Starbucks has also announced that they will get rid of all trans fats in their products by the end of the year.