HARRISBURG -- With heart disease the leading cause of death for Pennsylvanians, a statewide task force will begin examining ways to reduce the prevalence of trans fat in food.

The task force, created this week by the state Department of Health and Rep. James Wansacz, D-Luzerne, will study the negative health effects of trans fats, review current legislation in other states and then produce a report to help state officials, lawmakers and the public understand how to avoid trans fat.

Trans fat is formed when food manufacturers turn liquid vegetable oils into solid fats by a process called hydrogenation. This helps increase the shelf life of foods and maintain their flavor. Cookies, snack foods, crackers, vegetable shortenings and some brands of margarine commonly contain trans fat, which is not naturally occurring and not necessary for the body.

While Philadelphia has banned trans fat in food production, there is no legislation pending to extend the ban statewide.

"Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Pennsylvanians and people who live in the United States," said Dr. Calvin Johnson, state health secretary. "It is time for health advocates, policy makers and the food industry to take a serious look at how trans fat may contribute to the development of heart disease and other serious, preventable health conditions. Consumers should pay attention to food nutrition labels and avoid foods with high levels of trans fat."

In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told food manufacturers to begin listing trans fat contents on a product's nutrition facts label. The listing of saturated fats and cholesterol has been required on food labels since 1993.

Members of the new task force will include officials from four state agencies -- the departments of health, agriculture, aging and education -- plus local health departments, state legislators, the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, health advocacy groups, and food manufacturers such as Utz snacks and Tastykake.

"What the task force is looking at are what other options are out there other than banning trans fats," said Larissa Bedrick, a Health Department spokeswoman. "The last thing we want to do is create any harmful mandates to Pennsylvania businesses."

Ms. Bedrick said the department is looking more at ways of educating the public about trans fat and working with companies to curb its use rather than ban it outright.

Nearly 65 percent of Pennsylvanians claim they know what trans fats are, why they are bad for one's health and what foods they are found in, according to a study by the Pennsylvania Medical Society's Institute for Good Medicine.

The study also found that 57.2 percent of those surveyed supported a ban on trans fat in restaurant foods.

The task force expects to publish its findings and recommendations in June 2008.

First Published: August 18, 2007, 3:15 a.m.