Footnotes
Readers are encouraged to contact Paul Blumenthal, MD, Deputy Editor of MedGenMed, for the editor's eyes only or for possible publication via email: pblumen@stanford.edu
. 2007 Apr 3;9(2):2.
letter MedGenMed. 2007 Apr 3;9(2):2.
To the Editor,
Allowing the food industry to decide trans fat policy is like allowing the cigarette industry to decide smoking policy. Our job as a responsible society is to advocate for our children and ourselves by taking control of this public health problem. We must find the moral courage to do the right thing and demand a ban on artificial trans fats without delay.[1]
Whoa, whoa, whoa . . . “moral courage”!? Since when is what one eats a moral issue? Specific religious restrictions, which could be termed “moral,” are not the issue here and were not part of the reasoning offered by Dr. Dansinger. It is a stretch to say that eating trans fats is a moral issue or that companies that make or use them are immoral. What may be healthy is not necessarily a moral issue, but even if so, getting lawmakers to pass laws to ban trans fats is not the way to go. That is not the role of government! Have you thought through the implications of what you are demanding? The proponents of trans fats as being heart-healthy in the 1980's are now telling us that they were wrong. What if a law had been passed then outlawing all fats but trans fats? We'd be where we are now with other so-called scientific findings that have supported bans on alar, cyclamates, DDT, saccharin, and on and on. There's progress for you.
Actually, there has been progress in cutting back on trans fat use. Maybe it is slow, but in fact attitudes and practices are changing. Now that there is so much press and media coverage on the issue, people can make their own free choices as to where and what they will eat. Banning trans fats is no more the solution in a free society than is banning smoking in people's homes. There is still the law of unintended consequences, and this ban that you suggest has consequences far beyond and potentially worse than the “slow progress” that we have been making. We live in a free society, and people need to be able to make their own choices on these matters without coercion. We are great at getting information out, and people need to be able to decide, that is, weigh the risk-benefit ratio for themselves without governmental fiat.
Keep the government and bans out of this. There are ways that are working to deal with this. Once governmental bodies get involved in these supposed “moral” issues, we cannot get their tentacles off.
Just say “no” to bans!
Sincerely,
Reference
- 1.Dansinger M. Ban trans fats in 2007. MedGenMed. 2006;8:58. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549000 Accessed December 18, 2006. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
letter MedGenMed. 2007 Apr 3;9(2):2.
To the Editor,
Bravo Dr. Dansinger! I wish I had seen this article 10 years ago.[1] I now have blockage in my left main artery. Had I known that my trips to McDonald's or any other fast-food place would lead to this, I am sure that it would have caught my attention immediately.
Is there no way to pressure the government and/or food establishments to stop using trans fats immediately?
Thank you for your article.
Reference
- 1.Dansinger M. Ban trans fats in 2007. MedGenMed. 2006;8:58. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549000 Accessed December 18, 2006. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
letter MedGenMed. 2007 Apr 3;9(2):2.
To the Editor,
Belatedly, I have listened to your editorial on banning trans fats.[1] The 3 points that had the most impact on me were “average intake of 5 g per day in the United States,” “increases the risk of heart disease by approximately 25%,” and “a kids meal at McDonald's can have up to twice this amount of trans fats.” I believe that most healthcare providers are not aware of these facts. With the large amount of junk mail that we get on a daily basis, receptionists “sorting,” busy practices, “patient quotas,” and other factors, most of the newsletters, etc never make it to the providers' eyes. There are, however, a few things that almost always are brought to the providers' attention. Anything from the State Licensing Board draws attention because we all need licenses. If these 3 facts were on a postcard, with references in small print below, not only would the provider see it, but also mail clerks, receptionists, nurses, etc just “might” see it as well. It could even be posted in the waiting room for patients while waiting for their appointments to see their medical providers. With that amount of exposure, public opinion could well bring about change much quicker than “letters to your congress person,” passionate editorials, etc. I'm not sure whether it can legally be done, but if it can, I think that the information would spread “like wildfire.” Just a thought. Any feedback would be appreciated. Maybe I could try it on a small scale in my own state of Maine and see my Board's response. Again, thanks for getting the word out. It certainly affected me, and I like to consider myself fairly up-to-date on what's happening in the literature. Thanks again.
Reference
- 1.Dansinger M. Ban trans fats in 2007. MedGenMed. 2006;8:58. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549000 Accessed December 18, 2006. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
