Sparked by an unexpected nutrition label boasting a trans fat-free recipe on new "to-go" packages of muffins and cookies ordered for Home Plate, Dartmouth Dining Services saw the opportunity to embark on a campaign to reduce trans fatty acids in campus food.
Beth Rosenberger, the manager of Home Plate, Novack Cafe and Cafe North, had not intended to order trans fat-free food items, but was pleasantly surprised when she saw their nutritional content. Since DDS has tried to eliminate trans fats in their food in the past, this discovery prompted Rosenberger to distinguish the trans fat-free fast food from the litter.
Throughout the rest of this year, "trans fat-free" stickers will be placed on items that ordinarily have trans fats, such as cookies, muffins and other fast foods.
"[This] is just one more way for DDS to help students," Rosenberger said.
Trans fats increase the levels of bad cholesterol and the risk of coronary heart disease. Currently, DDS serves baked goods, snack foods and processed foods like chicken nuggets, buffalo wings and onion rings that contain high levels of trans fats.
Although DDS wants to eliminate trans fats from these products, the chances of completely eliminating it are slim, according to Rosenberger. Manufacturers charge high prices for trans fat-free products, costs that DDS would pass on to students.
"The price we would have to charge students would be very high because the trans fat-free products now are very expensive from the manufacturers," Rosenberger said.
Gradually finding less expensive trans fat-free options, Rosenberger plans to replace trans fat items with healthier options.
"They shouldn't have trans fats anywhere. It's like illegal in Europe," Home Plate patron Claire Wagner '10 said.
Although trans fats are technically not illegal overseas, countries throughout Europe are imposing regulations on trans fats, labelling products that contain them and imposing maximum limits on certain foods.
In response to these moves, McDonald's plans to cut the level of trans fats in its cooking oils to two percent by the middle of 2008.
The United States requires manufacturers to specifically indicate the trans fat content of foods through labelling laws introduced in 2006.
On Dec. 5, the New York City Board of Health also implemented a campaign to phase out trans fats to a half-gram per serving in food-service establishments within the city's borders.
Rosenberger said she wanted to put something bright and bold on fast food items to indicate which ones are healthier.
Home Plate frequenters Melissa Rudd '08 and Jackie Marino '10 feel that the "trans fat-free" stickers will increase their awareness of trans fats and improve their diets.
"I would aim more to buy items with the trans fat-free sticker," Rudd said.
