Mastroful Opposition

The Crains In$ider is reporting today that McDonalds has hired Randy Mastro to defend the corporation's interests against the proposed DOH ban on trans fat as well as against its menu label requirements that were the topics of a public hearing last month. It is expected that the Board of Health will rule for the two proposals at its December 5th meeting.

In a potentially interesting turn of events the Insider also reports that Speaker Quinn has given Councilman Vallone the go-ahead to draft legislation in these two areas as well as to proceed with plans to hold a public hearing. If true, this is indeed some good news. It would ,as Crains points out, give the local eateries a greater opportunity to amend the proposals and make them less onerous in their scope and more amenable to a well ordrered transition to a trans fat-free environment.

As we have said, the current transition period leaves too little time for neighborhood restaurants to prepare to find alternative ingredients and prepare the necessary changes in their cuisine. In addition, it is clear that the council needs to take a strong stand that city rule making must follow council law making and not the other way around.