26/09/2007 (Mercury News Online) - There's almost no more fat to fry in New York's restaurants, the city bragged last week. Some 94 percent of the Big Apple's more than 3,300 restaurants have switched to trans-fat-free spreads and oils since the city's ban on them went into effect in July, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said.

Most violations have been for using margarine.

"Despite claims to the contrary, New York City restaurants have shown that it's easy to get artificial trans fat out of spreads and fry oils," said city Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden.

The Board of Health approved the ban on heart-clogging trans fats in December. Earlier this month, a Federal Court judge struck down an accompanying regulation that would have required fast food establishments to post calorie counts on their menus.

Beginning Oct. 1, restaurants that don't switch to trans-fat-free oils, shortening and margarines for frying face fines starting at $200.

The once-popular trans fats are implicated in heart disease.