From popcorn to frozen pizza to most fried foods, trans fatty acids, or trans fats, have become a staple in the modern diet. Made from combining hydrogen with oil, trans fats are used in foods to increase shelf life and provide a cheap alternative to other oils.

While food manufacturers may see trans fats as a good thing due to the low cost and how they increase shelf life, our bodies don’t. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), trans fats raise bad cholesterol while lowering good cholesterol, putting more Americans at risk of heart disease.

In November, the Food and Drug Administration stated that partially hydrogenated oils, a contributor to trans fats, were not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) according to their standards. With this long overdue determination, the FDA has taken a step in the right direction by proposing to ban trans fats. Though this is just one of many phases the FDA must go through before trans fats are completely eliminated, it is much needed.

With processed foods on every shelf and fast food restaurants on every corner, it’s no wonder America’s health statistics are abysmal. Trans fats aren’t the only offender in the modern diet. High fructose corn syrup, genetically modified organisms, and dyes are all substantially unhealthy additives in foods. Today’s food manufacturers seem to only focus on profit, not health. Recent setbacks in the labeling of GMOs shows the lack of progress the food industry has made in the way of health.

In a study by the World Health Organization, researchers found that trans fatty acids largely contribute to coronary heart disease and diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10,000-20,000 heart attacks and 3,000-7,000 coronary deaths a year in the United States could be prevented with the reduction of trans fats in our food.

Several food manufacturers have already initiated the elimination of trans fats in their products, demonstrating trans fats are an unnecessary, unhealthy component to many foods. According to its website, McDonald’s fried food items contain no trans fats and despite Rand Paul’s claims that the FDA is “coming for your doughnuts,” Krispy Kreme also uses zero trans fats in the process of making doughnuts.

In 2006, Mayor Michael Bloomberg banned trans fats in New York City restaurants. In a statement regarding the FDA ban, Bloomberg said, “Seven years ago we became the first city in the nation to prohibit restaurants from using trans fats. Since then, at least 15 states and localities have followed suit and banned trans fats – and more than ten fast food chains have eliminated trans fats entirely. Today, we’re greatly encouraged that the FDA proposed measures that would virtually eliminate the artery-clogging and unnecessary ingredient from our nation’s food supply.”

While there has been a significant decrease in the amount of trans fats, several foods still contain high amounts of the product. The FDA proposal to ban trans fats will result in an elimination of all trans fats, hopefully transitioning America to a healthier nation.