New York City officially acted yesterday to ban artificial trans fats from its restaurants in a move that may have a ripple effect in communities across the country. While the usual whiners will complain that this constitutes undue government interference, I argue it's a good move for two reasons: (1) it will raise awareness of the dangers of trans fatty acids in the typical American diet; and (2) chains that operate in New York City will be forced to innovate in their ingredients and food preparation to avoid violating the ban, which may mean healthier alternatives will become available nationwide sooner rather than later.