New York City bans restaurants from using artificial trans fats

New York City has become the first city in the country to ban all restaurants from using artificial trans fats. The newly-passed regulations will also require hundreds of eateries to post food calorie counts right on their menus.

The ban won't apply to grocery stores or restaurants that serve prepared foods in the manufacturer's original packaging.

With some exceptions, restaurants will be barred from using spreads and frying oils containing artificial trans fats by July 1. Foods covered in that first round include french fries and fried chicken.

All other foods, including doughnuts, cookies and pies that use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil for texture, will have to be trans-fat-free by July 2008.