LA Will Certify Eateries as Trans Fat-Free

Los Angeles County will begin certifying trans-fat-free restaurants and rewarding those that pass muster with a decal in a voluntary campaign rolled out yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reports. Restaurants that pay a $204 application fee will get a surprise visit from inspectors to confirm that their kitchens are free of the heart-damaging fats. A green decal will announce the result.

Officials first considered enacting a ban, as New York City did, but they ran into jurisdictional issues with the state and resistance from the restaurant lobby. They still have high hopes for the voluntary program. "As people start looking for these zeros, they're going to really respond,” said one enthusiast. (More fat stories.)