First cigarettes, now flaky pastry: Arnold Schwarzenegger is being asked to train his sights on another health hazard by outlawing the use of trans fats from all restaurants in California.

There is rising concern that trans fats - a key ingredient in food such as margarine, biscuits, crisps and other snacks - poses a public health crisis on the scale of smoking.

Although there is a general scientific consensus that trans fats clogs arteries, other less conclusive studies have claimed links between the ingredient and cancer, diabetes, obesity, liver dysfunction and infertility.

If the California Governor signs off a law to ban trans fats, it could result in the ingredient disappearing from all American food.

The ban would be the biggest of its kind in the United States and force all restaurants and bakeries in California to remove trans fats from non-baked products by July 1 next year and from baked products by July 1, 2010.

Establishments that failed to comply would be fined $25 to $1,000 (£12.50 to £500). Chefs would still be allowed to use oils, margarines and shortenings that contain less than 0.5g of trans fats per serving, and packaged food products - which are sold across state lines - would be exempt from the ruling.

Opponents of a ban, led by Californian restaurants, say that the move would be another example of government interference.

They also point out that trans fats can be crucial in some baking recipes, especially when it comes to making fluffy, flaky pastry crusts.

“The government ban of artificial trans fats will not accomplish the goal of improving the overall health of Californians and takes a very narrow and misleading approach to a much larger health issue,” the California Restaurant Association said in a statement.

“Such a proposal ignores personal responsibility and the complexities and true causes of obesity and heart disease.”

A trans fats ban has already been put into effect in New York City, forcing fast-food outlets such as Dunkin' Donuts, Burger King, KFC, McDonald's and Pizza Hut to remove the ingredient from their menus.

So far, American customers appear to be happy with the results and many now believe that a nationwide ban on the artery-clogging ingredient is inevitable.

The proposal to ban trans fat in California - known as Assembly Bill 97 - was suggested by the Democratic Assembly member Tony Mendoza, a former teacher, who says that he felt compelled to take action after witnessing first-hand the health problem of obesity in schools.

“This is more than just legislation. This is a call to action that takes into consideration the health of our families,” he said. “We are taking a risk when we consume food and products that contain trans fat. This is an invisible and dangerous ingredient and it has to be eliminated.”

The Bill was passed by the Californian legislature on Monday and now awaits Mr Schwarzenegger's signature. It is supported by the California Academy of Family Physicians, the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Paediatrics.

Mr Schwarzenegger, a progressive Republican, has not yet taken a position on the issue.

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