More than 110 MHA-member hospitals have voluntarily eliminated industrial trans fats from hospital vending machines, cafeterias and patient nutrition programs as of Jan. 1, 2010, and many others are working toward elimination throughout the coming year. This initiative began in November 2008 when the MHA Board of Trustees asked Michigan hospitals to lead by example in community health improvement, one of the association’s four strategic pillars for health care reform.

Kick-off Material

• Announcement Letter
• Pledge Form
• Frequently Asked Questions - Updated 03/11/09

Trans Fats Elimination Initiative Honor Roll

• July 22, 2010

February Training Sessions

Feb. 24, 2009 · 9 a.m. - noon. · Providence Park Hospital · 47601 Grand River Ave. · Novi, MI
Feb. 25, 2009 · 9 a.m. - noon. · MHA Headquarters · 6215 W. St. Joe Highway · Lansing, MI

• Speaker Biographies
• Speaker presentations
  • Trans Fat - Po-Hong Chang, MS, RD
  • Delivering Trans Fat Free Meal - Susanne Gunsorek, RD

Tools and Materials

• MHA Statewide News Release: Michigan Hospitals Successfully Complete Trans Fats Elimination Initiative
• Sample Eliminating Trans Fats News Release
• Sample Trans-Fat-Free Posters
  • This cafeteria is trans-fat-free
  • This hospital is a trans-fat-free facility
  • This is a trans-fat-free facility

Helpful Links

• American Heart Association Trans Fat FAQs
• New York City Trans Fat Help Center
• Fry Test - Information on Zero Trans Fats Cooking Oil
• The Nutrition Source: Shining the Spotlight on Trans Fats - Harvard School of Public Health
• Ban Trans Fat

News Articles

Listen to the MHA's Brian Peters on Michigan Radio: Making Hospital Food Healthier (1/17/10)

• 05/25/10 Battle Creek Enquirer - CHC eliminates industrial trans fats from food service programs
• 02/18/10 The Arenac County Independent - Standish Hospital makes MHA Honor Roll for eliminating trans fats
• 01/28/10 Advance For Nurses - Lansing, MI-Michigan Hospitals Successfully Complete Trans Fats Elimination Initiative
• 01/28/10 The Burton View - Hurley completes trans fat elimination
• 01/13/10 The Saginaw News - Hospital's nutrition effort to improve patient, community health
• 01/13/10 The Detroit News - 110 Michigan hospitals cut industrial trans fat food
• 01/13/10 Crain’s Detroit Business - Michigan hospitals pledge to eliminate trans fats from foods
• 01/13/10 Detroit Free Press - Dozens of Michigan Hospitals scrap Trans Fats
• 12/19/09 allvoices.com - Some Hospitals Finally Going Trans Fat Free
• 12/17/09 University of Michigan - Trans-fats checking out of U-M Health System
• 02/27/09 Vending Market Watch - Michigan Hospital Group Will Eliminate Trans Fats From Meal Venues
• 02/25/09 WWJ Newsradio 950 - MidMichigan Health Cuts Out Trans Fats
• 11/10/08 Kalamazoo Gazette - Bronson goes trans-fat-free, joining Borgess

If you have any questions regarding the MHA Trans Fats Elimination Initiative, please contact Paige Hathaway at the MHA at (517) 886-8267.