NEW YORK, NY November 15, 2006 —The American Heart Association says the city should not be so quick to remove transfats from restaurants. WNYC’s Fred Mogul has more.

In written testimony released today, the Heart Association praised the ban on artery-clogging transfats, but says it should be phased in more slowly. The association worries if it’s implemented too quickly, restaurants wouldn’t be able to get enough unsaturated fats, such as soy or canola – and that might force them to use saturated fats, such as palm oil or lard, which are bad for the heart.

The current proposal being considered by the City Health Board would require restaurants be transfat-free by July 2008. The city says that should be enough time to revise recipes.

The city says it is reviewing all comments in advance of next month’s Health Board decision and points to support from numerous groups, including the American College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association.