New Phillies season emerges as trans fats disappear

By Brandon Green
Collegian Staff
March 28, 2007

As we get ready to root on the Philadelphia Phillies for what hopes to be a title run, an announcement was made last week regarding the cooking of the food at the Citizens Bank Park. Aramark, who is the food service provider for park, announced that they will be getting rid of all trans fat from its cooking oils, according to KYW-CBS 3. The Philadelphia-based company is doing this to comply with a new law that takes effect this fall. But, what people do not realize is that the ban of trans fat does not necessarily make the food any healthier. Now, the food simply won’t be cooked in oil with trans fat.

For those who are not familiar with trans fat, it is a fat that when consumed is shown to raise cholesterol levels much higher than saturated fat, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Web site. As a matter of fact, trans fats have become such a nuisance in foods that last year a law was passed in which all food companies were required to list trans fat content separately on the Nutrition Facts panel of all packaged foods, according to the American Heart Association.

The reason these trans fats are put into the foods is because they create a much more desirable taste, and the shelf life of the food is much longer than without adding them.

Lately, it seems as if all of the institutions are following in the ban of the no trans fat craze, including La Salle. But what I think is extremely humorous is that the food is no healthier than before. And after examining the different concessions at Citizens Bank Park and the listing of the food choices, it is obvious that many fattening goodies still remain on the menus.

The concessions listed as popular on the Phillies’ Web site are anything but healthy. At the top of that list is Brewerytown, which serves local, domestic and import brews. Next is Bull’s BBQ, which features a variety of items, including pit beef, barbecued ribs, pit turkey, pulled barbecue pork, barbecue turkey legs and the “Bulldog,” an extra-large kielbasa sandwich. Then you also have the fan favorite crab fries, along with cheesesteaks, french fries, chicken tenders, finger foods, ice cream and more. There is only one place listed on the entire concessions area that serves salads.

Looking at these foods, hardly any of them are healthy.

I do not buy into the no trans fat bit at all. A cheesesteak is always a cheesesteak any way you look at it, and it will never be healthy for you. The only plus to this whole situation is Citizens Bank Park are now offering supposed healthy items, including chipotle chicken pizza and vegetarian steaks.

The bottom line is if the companies wanted to be completely honest, they would tell you that they are getting rid of the trans fat, but it does not necessarily make the food any healthier. This is not true of all foods, but for foods at Citizens Bank Park, it is pretty hard to eat healthy.

greenb2@lasalle.edu