2012 -- S 2802

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LC00974

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- SANITATION IN FOOD SERVICE

ESTABLISHMENTS

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Crowley, Perry, Gallo, and Lanzi

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 21 of the General Laws entitled "FOOD AND DRUGS" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 27.2

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INDUSTRIALLY-PRODUCED TRANS FATS

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     21-27.2-1. Restrictions on foods containing industrially-produced trans fats. – No

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foods containing industrially-produced trans fat, as defined in this chapter, shall be stored,

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distributed, held for service, used in preparation of any menu item or served in any food service

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establishment, or by any food business, or by any mobile food service unit, as defined in section

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21-27-1 of this chapter, except food that is being served directly to patrons in a manufacturer's

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original sealed package.

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     21-27.2-2. Definition. – For the purposes of this chapter, a food shall be deemed to

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contain industrially-produced trans fat if the food is labeled as, lists as an ingredient, or has

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vegetable shortening, margarine or any kind of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. A food with

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a nutrition facts label or other documentation from the manufacturer that lists the trans fat content

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of the food as zero grams per serving shall not be considered as containing industrially-produced

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trans fat.

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     21-27.2-3. Labels required. – (a) Original labels. - All food service establishments, food

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businesses, and/or mobile food service units shall maintain on site the original labels for all food

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products:

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     (1) That are, or that contain, fats, oils or shortenings; and

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     (2) That are, when purchased by such food service establishments, food businesses,

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and/or mobile food services, required by applicable federal and state law to have labels; and

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     (3) That are currently being stored, distributed, held for service, used in preparation of

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any menu items, or served by the food service establishment, food business, and/or mobile food

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service unit.

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     (b) Documentation instead of labels. - Documentation acceptable to the department of

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health from the manufacturers of such food products, indicating whether the food products

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contain vegetable shortening or any kind of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, or indicating

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trans fat content, may be maintained instead of original labels.

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     (c) Documentation required when food products are not labeled. - If baked goods, or

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other food products restricted pursuant section 21-27.2-1, that are or that contain fats, oils or

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shortenings, are not required to be labeled when purchased, the food service establishment, food

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business, and/or mobile food service unit shall obtain and maintain documentation acceptable to

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the department of health, from the manufacturers of the food products, indicating whether the

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food products contain vegetable shortening or any kind of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, or

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indicating trans fat content.

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     21-27.2-4. Implementation. – (a) Food service establishments, food businesses, and/or

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mobile food service units will have six (6) months after enactment of this chapter to use oils,

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margarines and shortenings that provide zero grams trans fat per serving except for fats used in

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deep-frying, yeast dough, and for cake batter.

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     (b) Food service establishments, food businesses, and/or mobile food service units will be

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required to use trans fat free replacements for deep-frying, yeast dough, and cake batter within

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eighteen (18) months of enactment of this chapter.

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     (c) A “grace period” will be implemented by the department of health if the agency

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confirms that healthier oil alternatives are not available in sufficient amounts, there is a disruption

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in supply, or there are late-stage operational adjustments identified by restaurants and bakers.

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     21-27.2-5. Technical assistance. – The department of health should, to the greatest

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degree possible, make available to food service establishments, food businesses, and mobile food

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service units, resource materials, including brochures, practical tips and information about

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alternatives, to enable food service establishments, food businesses, and mobile food service units

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to reduce the amount of trans fat in foods served without substituting unhealthy oils and fats.

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     21-27.2-6. Regulatory authority. – The department of health shall have the authority to

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adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.

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     21-27.2-7. Administrative fines. – The department of health may impose fines for

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noncompliance pursuant to section 21-27-11.11.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC00974

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- SANITATION IN FOOD SERVICE

ESTABLISHMENTS

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     This act would restrict the use of industrially-produced trans fat in foods prepared and/or

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served by food service establishments, food businesses and mobile food service units.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

     

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LC00974

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S2802