Trans fats banned in high schools, phased out at U of M
Chelse McKee, staff
Despite the recent trans fat ban by the Manitoban provincial government for elementary to secondary school, currently the government has no plans to extend the trans fat ban to Manitoban post-secondary institutions.
The University of Manitoba Food Services, provided by Aramark Corp., announced in August 2007 that all of their food products would be trans-fat-free by the end of 2007. Currently, Daryl Lucyk, the general manager of campus food services, the foods served in Pembina Hall residence are already free of trans fat.
“We purposely try not to use any trans fat products. So, for example our frying oil for our deep fryers, our margarines, our French fries, any type of oil based sprays that we used. All those articles are trans fat free. We’re trying to make efforts to set an example and we also believe that’s the way of the future.”
According to Health Canada, trans fats are partially hydrogenated fats, which are less digestible and have been show to increase levels of bad cholesterol, and lower levels of good cholesterol.
Lucyk said that the nutritional value and Weight Watchers information of all Food Services food will be available online by January.
Franchises on campus, like Starbucks and Tim Hortons, are not included in the trans-fat policy, although they are operated by Food Services. Earlier this year, Starbucks announced that they would no longer be using artificial trans fats in any of their food and beverages by the end of 2007. As of yet, Tim Hortons has not announced any plans about their use of trans fat.
Diane McGifford, the Manitoban minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, said that although the ban covered youth-based schools, the government has no business regulating food services in post-secondary institutions.
“From our perspective, universities are self-governing institutions. We’re really not involved in their everyday decisions involving food services. I think the administration people would be not very pleased if we were to involve ourselves,” she said.
McGifford added that “university students are adults, and are therefore in the stronger position to make choices about their food as compared to children in schools.”
According to Lucyk, the two most common selections for breakfast for students in residence are grains, like bagels, and fruit.
Although right now, the issue to extend the trans fat ban to post-secondary institutions of Manitoba is not on the table, McGifford says that if someone were to present a solid case or complaint about the matter, the provincial government could take it into consideration.
“It would be very unlikely [to extend the ban]. I never say never.”
