Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon signed a bill Thursday that bans restaurants from serving foods make with trans fats.
The mayor's anticipated signature makes the bill a law. The Baltimore City Council unanimously voted March 18 to approve the bill, which will take effect fall 2009.
Baltimore City Councilwoman Agnes Welch sponsored the bill as part of a larger effort to curb childhood obesity. The bill prohibits Baltimore restaurants from serving a food item that contains partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, such as vegetable shortening.
Baltimore's move follows the step taken by other cities, including Philadelphia and New York, which enacted similar bans.
