Petition to ban "trans fat"

New Democratic Party member of Canadian Parliament from Winnipeg Centre; Pat Martin (not Paul Martin; the prime minister), has started campaigning for a ban on using trans fat (also known as trans fatty acids or hydrogenated vegetable oils) in the food supplies in Canada. Studies have shown that consumption of even only 1 gram of trans fat per day, can increase the risk of heart attack by 20%, while many Canadians are consuming an average of 10 grams of trans fat per day in their food diet.

So far, Health Canada has agreed to make it mandatory to label the food products to identify the amount of trans fat in them so, the consumers have a choice whether to purchase the product or not. Although this seems to be a reasonable way of dealing with this issue, perhaps it is not. According to Mr. Martin, studies show 75% of the people do not pay attention to the labeling, and this is more common in low income families who also consume more of cheaper and processed food in which the amount of trans fat is even higher. It is not unreasonable to assume that to the majority of the low families, the major priority is not the quality of the food but the cost of food. In this case, the children of the low income families are even more vulnerable as they have no option to choose what food supply to consume.

Mr. Martin, has hardcopy as well as online petition addressed to the House of Commons requesting the elimination of transfats from Canada's food supplies. You might wish to join Mr. Martin in his campaign to ban this harmful substance (particularly affecting poor) from Canadian food supply.