Trans fat ban off the menu in Winnipeg

(Apr. 21/08) Winnipeg will not be moving forward with a local trans fat ban, opting instead to launch an educational campaign to encourage consumers to avoid trans fats.

In January 2008, city staff were instructed to prepare a report on the feasibility of restricting trans fats in restaurants in the city of Winnipeg and/or requiring city restaurants to disclose the amount of trans fats in food.

In the weeks following the committee’s request, CRFA met with city councillors and municipal staff to discuss the difficulties of regulating trans fats at the local level.  CRFA encouraged the city to endorse the national approach to reducing trans fats across Canada’s food supply. 

The final report from city staff recommended against proceeding with a local trans fat ban, and instead recommended that the city partner with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Manitoba Health and Health Canada to launch an education campaign focused on informing the public and the foodservice industry about the dangers of trans fats.  The committee adopted the report and asked that city staff report back in six months on the progress of the education campaign.

CRFA Documents

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