Not that this is going to be a big shock to any of you who religiously attend the State Fair of Texas, but the Fair’s move toward encouraging vendors to cook their food in trans-fat free oil probably isn’t going to affect the health of what you’re eating at the Fair too much. At least, that’s the verdict in a Morning News story running today and talking about the Fair’s initiative to encourage vendors to use trans-fat free oils this year (a special label will identify those using the supposedly healthier oil).
Other fairs in Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota are starting to pay attention to the trans-fat free trends, so Texas is jumping on-board, too. I thought it was telling, though, that most of the vendors didn’t even know if they were already using trans-fat free oils; several, including Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, said they have been using peanut oil for years, which turns out to be trans-fat free but gives some people with peanut allergies fits.
So there you have it. Maybe the Fair’s food will be a little healthier this year. But somehow, if you’re looking for healthy food, I don’t think the Fair is probably the best place to start. But if you’re looking for tasty, fat-saturated, high-caloric food you probably wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot-pole the rest of the year…this year’s Fair runs Sept. 28-Oct. 21, by the way.
