HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

311

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of health TO determine the feasibility of reducing or eliminating the use of trans fat in food preparation and food service by hawaii's restaurant industry.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, although trans fats occur in small quantities in meat and dairy products, most trans fats consumed today are created as a side effect of partial hydrogenation of plant oils, an industrial process developed in the early 1900s; and

 

WHEREAS, health authorities worldwide recognize that eating trans fat that results from partial hydrogenation is neither required nor beneficial for health, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, and creates more of a health risk than consumption of fats that occur naturally; and

 

     WHEREAS, trans fats, which are tightly regulated in a few countries and must be disclosed on product labels in many other countries such as the United States, are being voluntarily removed from food products by many companies that are establishing trans fat free product lines; and

 

     WHEREAS, in May 2005, Tiburon, California, became the first American city where all restaurants voluntarily cook with trans-fat free oils; and

 

WHEREAS, in December 2006, the city of New York became the first large United States city to strictly limit the use of trans fat in restaurants; and

 

     WHEREAS, other cities throughout the country such as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle are also considering a ban on oils containing trans fats for large chain restaurants; and

 

WHEREAS, the state of Massachusetts is considering legislation to ban restaurants statewide from preparing food with trans fat; and

 

     WHEREAS, major food chains such as Kraft, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and the Walt Disney Company have chosen to reduce or remove trans fat from their products by a specified date; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to determine the feasibility of reducing or eliminating the use of trans fat in food preparation and food service by Hawaii's restaurant industry; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to work with the Hawaii Restaurant Association and the Hawaii Food Industry Association to survey its members on concerns with reducing or eliminating trans fat in their food preparation or food service activities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the survey address issues such as consumer trends, costs and availability of trans fat free cooking oils, and economic, health, education, and other concerns surrounding trans fat free food; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, if necessary, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the


Director of Health, the Hawaii Restaurant Association, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Health; Food Establishments; Food Service; Trans Fat