THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	35
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

restricting the service of products containing artificial trans fats at all food service establishments.

     WHEREAS, among the goals of the Department of Health are to prevent disease, and promote healthy lifestyles, health, and well-being; and

     WHEREAS, dietary trans fat increases the risk of heart disease; and

     WHEREAS, most dietary trans fat is found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil; and

     WHEREAS, there are currently available heart healthy alternatives to dietary trans fat, such as non-hydrogenated mono and poly unsaturated vegetable oils, and other, newly developed oils; and

     WHEREAS, when trans fat is replaced with currently available heart healthy alternatives, scientific studies have shown a decrease in coronary heart disease events such as heart attacks by at least six per cent; and

     WHEREAS, national surveys show that Americans spend almost half of their food dollars eating out; and

     WHEREAS, an estimated one third of dietary trans fat comes from foods purchased in restaurants; and

     WHEREAS, artificial trans fat can be replaced with currently available heart healthy alternatives without consumers noticing an effect; and

     WHEREAS, the continued presence of artificial trans fat in restaurant foods needlessly increases the risk of heart disease for our States' residents; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Department of Health is requested to undertake a study to determine the feasibility and steps necessary to restrict the use of trans fats in all foods sold at food service establishments and mobile food service establishments operating in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is requested to include the determination of relevant definitions, necessary labeling requirements, reasonable exceptions, appropriate penalties for violations, and suggested legislation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Health is requested to report to the Legislature with the results of the study set forth in this Resolution no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Artificial Trans Fat; Restriction