ALLENDALE, Mich. -- New rules pushed ahead by the Food and Drug Administration could lead to historic changes to the average American's diet. The changes will remove artificial trans fats in products spanning the entirety of the food industry.
Many health experts consider trans fats too dangerous for human consumption, despite the fact that they have been served up in restaurants and on store shelves for years.
This type of rule is long overdue, says Dr. Steven Nizielski, a professor with Grand Valley State University with a PhD in nutrition.
"I think [the FDA] can no longer ignore the evidence," Nizielski said. "The FDA has been slow to react over time. But the evidence is so overwhelming, it can no longer be ignored."
Trans fats are linked to up to 50,000 annual deaths as well as a slew of health problems, including cardiovascular disease and obesity.
"There is nothing in our diet that is as harmful as trans fat," Dr. Nizielski said. "No critically thinking person can any longer consider these to be safe."
The FDA has given the food industry three years to remove added trans fats entirely.
