http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8622723.stm
British doctors and scientists have concluded that 7,000 deaths a year could be prevented in Britain alone by reducing trans fat consumption by a single percent. Anything above 2% (of daily caloric intake) is considered dangerous. Thus, the UK is pushing to ban fatty acids all together. We have seen similar bans in NYC and Denmark.
However, if this ban is “successful” in the UK, will similar bans be made across the globe? In the US? Why or why not? Moreover, is it the government’s place to be placing bans on certain foods in the first place? (What’s next, a universal ban of potato chips?)
This article explores the extend of a government’s control, as well as the international "domino effect" this ban may inspire.
Also consider that the UK runs under the precautionary principal, meaning that it requires less scientific evidence and debate when attempting to enforce bans such as this: thus expediting the process considerably.
I think that you bring up an interesting point about the international domino effect. There does seem to be a pattern where common practice becomes policy, and countries start to follow the lead of others. I can't say that it is the government's place to control what we eat, but if there is something really unhealthy, the government has usually taken it upon themselves to educate the people so that they can make their own smart decisions. Take cigarettes, for example. The government never said that no body could smoke, but they did make it increasingly known how dangerous cigarettes were. Similar policies have already been instated regarding trans fats, and we have seen an increase of packages reading "0 trans fat" etc...
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