The federal government will require food companies to remove most artificial trans fats, which research has shown have no health benefits and contribute to heart disease, the country's leading cause of death.
The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it would require companies to phase out the ingredient used during food processing to improve flavor, texture and life of a product.
Trans fat, created by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, was once common in the American diet, but many companies have chosen to eliminate it in recent years. People consumed 78 percent less trans fat between 2003 and 2012, according to the FDA.
The agency said what trans fats remain are a risk to people's health.
Cardiovascular disease contributes to 30 percent of deaths in Baltimore, according to the city's health department.