Guilty pleasure foods like pies, doughnuts and popcorn may never taste the same after a new Food and Drug Administration rule phasing out artificial trans fats takes effect over the next three years. Ironically, the changes could be difficult for the man at the center of the decision: Barack Obama.
President Obama has been known to frequent fast-food restaurants and spotted plenty of times digging into heart-clogging dishes. The Knoxville News Sentinel found six instances of Obama eating foods containing trans fats. I found even more:
1. Ice cream
Trans fats: .5 grams
Calories: 230
When: During an August 2010 trip to Panama City Beach, Fla, to promote tourism and oil spill cleanup efforts, Obama cooled off with mint chocolate chip ice cream.
2. Waffles
Trans fats: 2 grams
Calories: 190
When: During some last-minute Scranton, Pa., primary campaigning in April 2008, Obama ate breakfast with Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.
3. Cheesesteak
Trans fats: .5 grams
Calories: 520
When: The very next day, when Michelle joined her husband for cheesesteaks in Philadelphia.
4. French fries
Trans fats: .1 gram
Calories: 365
When: Obama ate the fries with the cheesesteaks in Philadelphia.
5. Chili dog
Trans fats: 1 gram
Calories: 310
When: Obama took a lunch break with the D.C. mayor at Ben’s Chili Bowl in January 2009.
6. Hamburger
Trans fats: 1 gram
Calories: 354
When: In Arlington, Va., Obama talked politics over cheeseburgers with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in June 2010.
7. Carrot cake
Trans fats: 1.5 grams
Calories: 300
When: Obama took a break from campaigning in Reno, Nev., to eat carrot cake in August 2008.
8. Pizza slice
Trans fats: .3 grams
Calories: 285
When: In March 2008, Obama ate American Dream pizza in Corvallis, Ore.
9. Doughnut
Trans fats: 4 grams (a lot of bakeries are now phasing out trans fats)
Calories: 204
When: The president may want to ban sprinkles, but he enjoyed a good Seattle doughnut in October 2010.
10. Pie
Trans fats (pie crust) 2-3 grams
Calories: 174-456
When: Obama enjoyed pie at a Nevada restaurant in 2008, a dessert usually on the family dinner table only during holidays.
With the coming changes, and given how much he enjoys his junk food, the president may have to use the sarcastic #ThanksObama hashtag on himself.
Emily Leayman is an intern at the Washington Examiner
