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Europeans Eat Less Dangerous Fats
Europeans eat less of the most dangerous, cholesterol-raising
fats than Americans do and the amount is decreasing,
according to a report released Wednesday by the European
Food Safety Authority.
Trans fat and saturated fats, which are prevalent in meat,
raise blood levels of bad cholesterol. But trans fats also
reduce levels of good cholesterol, increasing the risk of
heart disease even more. It also increases blood levels of
triglycerides, the chemical form in which most fat exists
in food as well as in the body.
Some trans fats occur naturally in beef, lamb and dairy products.
But most are created when hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable
oil to create solid margarine or shortening.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this year ordered food
manufacturers to list trans fat alongside saturated fats on
product labels, starting Jan. 1, 2006.
As the U.S. obesity problem spreads to Europe, calls have
been raised for companies here to follow suit.
In the boldest move, Denmark last year ordered a virtual
end to the use of artificial trans fats in processed foods,
with then-Food Minister Mariann Fischer Boel -- soon to be
the EU's agriculture commissioner -- urging other EU countries
to do the same.
That forced McDonald's Denmark, for example, to switch oils
for its fries, even though the company has yet to do so elsewhere,
said spokesman Kristian Madsen.
An EU study in the mid-1990s found trans fats accounted for
about 0.5 to 2 percent of daily calories for Europeans. That
compares with an estimated 2.6 percent for Americans, according
to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Smoking Ban in Spain
The Spanish Parliament has banned smoking in its
corridors in advance of a government plan for
a smoking ban in all working places across Spain.
Spain is considered one of Europe's most tobacco-using nations
-- the government says 34 percent of Spaniards over 15 are
smokers.
Health Minister Elena Salgado wants to ban tobacco in the
workplace by next year, forcing companies of all sizes and
government offices to create designated smoking areas, which
are now rare. The ban at Parliament is an effort to comply
early.
Lawmakers in the Congress of Deputies have traditionally
refrained from smoking in the ornate chamber where full sessions
are held. But they did smoke just about everywhere else, including
hearing rooms.
Europe Encourages Chinese Tourists
Many countries in Europe are getting ready for
what they expect will be a huge influx of Chinese
tourists after a recent agreement came into effect
allowing Chinese tour groups to visit 29 European
nations.
In the past, Chinese tour groups have only been
admitted if they apply as business delegations.
Now Chinese people will be able to buy a tour to
Western Europe for $1,600 or less.
The opening up of so many European countries unlocks
new vistas for the narrow but growing segment of
China’s population with the disposable income
to take advantage of it.
The Chinese media has been packed with information
whetting people's appetites and warning of the
possible snags.
TV cameras have followed local travellers as they
sample a Venetian gondola ride - and they have
even shown people how to carry their bags so they
won't be pick-pocketed.
They have told people they will have to pay several
times more for their can of Coca Cola than in China,
and featured Chinese restaurant managers in Europe
reassuring them that they will be able to find
their hometown food.
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