Trans-fat Battle in Albany County Reported by: Kathryn Hauser Email: kathrynhauser@fox23news.com Last Update: 5/11 10:56 pm
The fate of trans-fat appears to hang in the balance in Albany County.
Lawmakers postponed a vote Monday night that would repeal a proposed ban on trans-fats in baked goods.
They'll now send the proposed plan to a law committee, for review.
Meanwhile, bakers are up in arms over the possible ban.
Rachel Cocca-Dott says “let them in cake with trans-fats” in Albany County. Rachel owns CoccaDott’s cake shop in Colonie. She’s tried trans-fat free oils in her baked goods and found it doesn’t taste good.
“I’m forced to use something that’s going to make my cakes not taste good and it will ultimately force my customers to go to surrounding counties – where they can get the good stuff,” says Cocca-Dott.
The Albany County Legislature has an impending ban of all trans-fats in baked goods starting July 1st. Trans-fat is mostly artificial and is the type of fat the increases the risk of heart disease.
Bakers are worried their businesses could crumble.
“My customers are used to quality. I built my reputation on one thing – and here comes the government marching in saying you can’t use this now,” says Cocca-Dott.
Albany County Legislature Majority leader Frank Commisso argues the trans-fat ban would help people’s health.
“This is a very dangerous ingredient. The more people get educated about the effects of trans-fats; It’s obesity, it’s heart attacks, it’s diabetes, even cancer now they’re saying.”
But not every county lawmaker feels the same.
“It’s more than just trans-fat. It’s about letting people choose what they want to do and what they want to buy in a bakery,” says Albany County Minority Leader, Christine Benedict.
Funny how back in the 70's, the push was on 'no butter'. 30 years later, guess what? Butter is actually 'ok'. We were told to not eat eggs and guess what? Eggs are 'ok'.
But this really is not about transfats. It is however about government control. This is about 'freedom to choice'. And ya know what? Only the 'small' private bakeries are the ones that have to stop using transfats. (if passed) But, the large chains, like a Sara Lee, who package their baked goods and sell them in mass quantity are exempt! WTF?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I agree Bumble, I'm sick and tired of having to follow stupid laws that make someone in the government feel good. If you don't want to eat trans-fat that's fine but don't force me to follow your dumb ideas and the government should stay out of peoples lives.
If you go to the market, they have COUNTRY CROCK, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ISN'T BUTTER and everything else. I believe that it is called choice.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The actions of the government appear more and more like the Hitler/Nazi era. They want everyone to eat the same things, drink the same things, look the same way (skinny), drive the same thing, all have the same health care, all make the same wage. Yup, that's what I call diversity! NOT!!!
We are clearly being lead around by our noses and the sad part is that no one really even cares!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
the list is endless.....now we get to add the crack pot drug ads to the list.........
that's why there is no such thing as national healthcare or insurance.....it's about choices and always has been and always will be....until,,,,,,,,,, "Mr./Mrs. Smith have you taken your 'medication' today? I noticed when you clocked in for work that your cholesteral was high and you must not have slept well. I will make an appointment with the doctor and they will see you in 8weeks. As for the cholesterol, I will change your market order." blah blah blah blah blah..................
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
The ban on trans fats by Albany County and New York City [May 8 Gazette] may deserve a hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court might see a violation of individual rights by such governmental edicts. In the first place, no citizen is compelled to eat what may be unhealthy food. If this small matter is not cleared up, then the rest of life’s common risky behaviors could be legislated out of business — smoking, alcohol drinking, driving (exhaust fumes can cause asthma), eating meat, sex (“This could lead to overpopulation on a shrinking planet”), etc. The traditional way of dealing with such potential dangers is to put warning labels on suspected products. The logical end of banning questionable products is to ban life — or at least the freedom to think for oneself. Thus, the underlying issue — about which the court is always vigilant — is the potential tyranny of governments.
Just let us make up our own mind what's good for us and what's not and the government on all levels have got to stop jamming their idiotic laws down our throats.
The only reason there are trans fats in foods is because people keep paying other people to make/create all the food they ever eat.......so it is choice choice to make your own food and to eat or not to eat.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
The only reason there are trans fats in foods is because people keep paying other people to make/create all the food they ever eat.......so it is choice choice to make your own food and to eat or not to eat.......
come on, you are making toooo much sense here! COOK? What's that?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Editorial on trans fats in bakeries inconsistent with one on cigarettes
On April 22, the Daily Gazette’s editorial regarding proposed legislation by the state Legislature to prohibit cigarette sales in drugstores said “New York state legislators seem to take a perverse pride in overreaching laws that trample personal freedoms and make life more difficult for businesses.” The editorial concluded with the following statement, “Even if the ideas of smoking and drugstores are incompatible, that doesn’t mean there should be a law against businesses selling what is a legal product. If stores want to voluntarily stop selling cigarettes, as some are apparently doing, fine. But don’t legislate it.” Yet, on May 8 the Gazette, in an apparent contradiction, supports the ban of trans fats by Albany County. I guess trampling personal freedoms and making life more difficult for small businesses is not a bad thing when the Gazette agrees with the freedoms being trampled, or doesn’t care about the small business being hurt. After all, how much ad revenue is derived from a small bakery as opposed to Rite-Aid, Walgreens or Walmart? The editorial reiterates all of the benefi - cial reasons for banning trans fats, such as reducing obesity and heart disease, thereby saving millions on medical costs. Of course, if Albany County were really serious about medical cost savings, it would implement some of the cost-savings measures proposed by Mike Connors to reduce costs in the nursing home, or maybe ban the sale of cigarettes. But cigarettes, unlike trans fats, generate tax revenue, and no selfrespecting legislator would ever suggest eliminating something that generated tax revenue. The issue here is not what tastes better, though I prefer my cupcakes with trans fats; it is one of control, as once again the legislators, who obviously are intellectually and morally superior to us common folk, need to tell us what to do for our own good.
Instead of placing a ban on trans fats [May 11 Gazette], why not give businesses the choice of using it in their products and putting a sign in a conspicuous place, notifying the customer. Yes, give the consumer the choice. In a city where every block is dotted with a burger house, pizza parlor, buffet or bar, is trans fat really that big a threat? Maybe the people of Albany County need to replace these health police the first Tuesday in November.
sometimes the people in the government the leaders, they need to do things to help the people and protectt them I know you repubs dont see it that way because you are all anarchists over here and that is why you will be the outlaw party soon
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