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State Debates Trans-Fat Ban

IN 2007, Ohio became the 15th state to propose a ban on trans fats. Although some cities, including New York and Chicago, have approved such bans, none of the statewide bans have gotten past lawmakers. Still, state and national soybean organizations are in a corner. After all, they are promoting the use of low-linolenic soybean varieties by farmers. When processed, the low-linolenic varieties produce trans-fatfree soybean oil.

“While the acres for lowlinolenic soybeans continue to increase for both the U.S. and Ohio, an all-out ban on trans fats would have a negative economic impact on Ohio’s $1 billion soybean industry,” says John Lumpe, executive director of the Ohio Soybean Association. “That’s because the supply for low-linolenic oil could not meet the demand to supply all restaurants and food-service agencies that would be affected by a mandatory elimination of trans fats,” Lumpe adds.