A variety of food and beverage bans have been implemented to encourage healthier eating, reduce disease risk and, in some cases, benefit the environment.
But the question is, do they work?
Studies are just beginning to shed light on the effectiveness of prohibiting the sale of specific foods and beverages, and the results may surprise you.
Ban on Trans Fats
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent ban on trans fats is supposed to help reduce the incidence of heart disease, but I'm not sure the ban will be as effective. Here's why: Food manufacturers are already starting to replace trans fats with highly saturated tropical oils (palm and coconut), as well as interesterified oils. While studies are still ongoing, some research suggests that interesterified oils have the same negative effects on blood lipids and glucose metabolism as trans fats. And it's easy to forget that trans fats were introduced to the food supply because they were thought to be healthier alternative to tropical oils.
While we won't know the public health outcomes associated with the trans fats ban for many years, a better approach may be to provide incentives for consumers who eat the most produce, whole grains and limit processed foods that contain trans or saturated fats.
Here are examples of specific bans that may have done more harm than help.
Ban on Fast Food Backfires
One study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine examined the effects of a landmark policy that restricted the opening of standalone fast-food restaurants in a specific area code of south Los Angeles. Researchers thought the reduced number of fast-food eateries would help improve the food environment, encourage healthier food choices and reduce skyrocketing obesity rates. However, the results found just the opposite: Waistlines grew faster in the areas where the zoning legislation took effect, compared to other areas of Los Angeles County that had not restrictions on fast-food restaurants.
Ban on Bottled Water Causes Increase in Soda Consumption
In another study published in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers evaluated the outcomes of a campus-wide ban on bottled water at the University of Vermont. The ban was instituted to help reduce the number of empty plastic bottles entering the waste stream. Similar bans are in effect in some 50 colleges and universities, but there are no published studies indicating they have benefited the environment.
The Vermont researchers reported that during the ban, bottle use increased from 21.8 bottles per person to 26.3 bottles per person. Those who drank bottled water switched to drinking other packaged beverages, such as sugary sodas and fruit drinks. As a result of the ban, students consumed more liquid calories and added sugars, which are known to increase risk for overweight and obesity. "The university took away the healthiest beverage when we should be making the healthiest choice the easiest choice," explains registered dietitian Rachel Johnson, a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont and a co-author of the study.
Bottom line: The government should try to improve the U.S. food supply whenever possible, but bans may not be the best approach. While our food environment is not perfect, it's still easy for the vast majority of us to enjoy a plant-based diet with moderate amounts of lean proteins and healthy fats, and with minimal servings of sweets and ultra-processed foods. Convincing consumers that healthy eating can be easy, inexpensive and great tasting doesn't require food bans.
Julie Upton, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and communications expert specializing in food, nutrition and health. Ms. Upton is a nationally recognized journalist who has written thousands of articles for national newspapers, magazines and e-media including The New York Times, The Huffington Post, U.S. News and World Report, Prevention, Shape, Health, Good Housekeeping, Redbook and Men's Journal. She is co-author of "The Real Skinny: Appetite for Health's 101 Fat Habits and Slim Solutions" (Penguin 2013) and "Energy to Burn: The Ultimate Food and Nutrition Guide to Fuel Your Active Life" (Wiley 2009). Upton co-founded Appetite for Health, where she blogs daily about nutrition, fitness and health.
