HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2007.10.04 - 9341Miscellaneous Resolution # 07011
BY: Commissioners Marcia Gershenson, District #17
RE: Board of Commissioners — Ban Trans-Fats in Oakland County
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Oakland County Health and Human Services Departments mission is to protect
the community through health promotion, disease prevention and protection of the environment;
and
WHEREAS restricting "food service establishments" (FSE's) from serving food that contains
artificial trans fat can reduce the exposure of Oakland County residents to an avoidable hazard
that is associated with increased heart disease risk; and
WHEREAS heart disease is Oakland County's leading cause of death for men and women. In
2005, 28.9% of deaths in Oakland County were related to heart disease compared to the
second cause of death, cancer, at 23.1%; and
WHEREAS trans fats are formed when hydrogen is added to a vegetable oil, converting it from a
liquid fat to a solid fat which promotes a longer shelf life than a fat like margarine: and
WHEREAS according to the New England Journal of Medicine consumption of "trans fat
increases the risk of heart disease by elevating LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowering HDL (good)
cholesterol"; and
WHEREAS scientific evidence demonstrates a clear association between increased trans fat
intake and risk of coronary heart disease: and
WHEREAS scientific studies published in the Changes and Consequences, Society for Nutrition
Education (2002) entitled Role of food Prepared Away from Home in the American Diet 1977-78
Versus 1994-96, estimates that up to 23% or coronary heart disease could be avoided by
replacing trans fat with healthy alternatives, such as, traditional mono- and poly-unsaturated
vegetable oils (e.g. canola, corn, olive, etc.), that have not been hydrogenated, as well as, oils
made from specially cultivated soybeans, safflowers and sunflowers; and
WHEREAS the dietary guidelines for Americans, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
recommends that dietary intake of trans fats be "as low as possible" and the American Heart
Association's guidelines issued in June 2006, recommend that trans fat intake be kept below
one (1%) percent of total energy intake; and
WHEREAS national surveys by the National Restaurant Association show that Americans spend
almost 47% of their food dollars eating out. Therefore, the continued presence of artificial trans
fat in restaurant foods needlessly increases the risk for heart disease for all of our County's
residents; and
WHEREAS the economic burden on the State of Michigan taxpayers from cardiovascular
disease is $13.7 billion annually, according to Michigan's Surgeon General at
www.m ichiganstepsup. aro; and
Commissioner Marcia Gershenson
District? #1 7
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Utuk-,12:1-64,
Commission
District # a-
ornmissioner g /Commissio
District # /0 District #J
WHEREAS Oakland County is committed to stemming the rising costs of health care. County
Executive L. Brooks Patterson has embarked on a Wellness Initiative for Oakland County
employees. This long term investment in the health of County employees both requires and
reflects visionary leadership to effectuate such a countywide effort; and
WHEREAS a proactive and positive step forward would be for the Board of Commissioners to
unite with the County Executive Patterson and his administration to establish a trans fat ban,
which would extend preventative health care to all residents of Oakland County; and
WHEREAS this program could be implemented in a multi-stepped approach. Phase 1 is to build
awareness, invite community input and encourage individual participation through a series of
town hall type meetings; and
WHEREAS Phase 2 should include input from restaurants to share their concerns and
questions; and
WHEREAS the final, Phase 3, would be an implementation of the trans fat restriction in food
service establishments.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
hereby requests the Oakland County Health Division to take the necessary actions to adopt
regulations and/or an amendment to the Oakland County Health Code that will eliminate the use
of trans fats in food service establishments by December, 2008.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is committed to
the health and well-being of its residents and considers the ban of trans fats in food service
establishments to be responsible and preventative health care legislation and urges the state
legislators to ban the use of trans fats in food service establishments statewide.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of
this adopted resolution to County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Dr. Thomas J. Gordon
(Director of Oakland County's Health and Human Services Department), Governor Jennifer
Granholm, the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan legislature, the Michigan Surgeon
General and Oakland County's Legislative Lobbyists.
Commissioner
District #2/
Cprimmissioner
'strict #/5—
k)/ ( "7 C'
f
Commissioner CoMmissioner
District # 11 DistriOt #
1/11,601€41,--
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District # iq
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #07011 January 18, 2007
The Chairperson referred the resoiution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.