america-number-one

America Number One!

From an article on trans fats:

In 2003, Denmark became the first country to control trans fats within their food industries by banning the hydrogenated oils that produce them. Following this and detailed research by scientists, physicians and medical researchers, other countries have looked to follow. Although America usually sets the standards for the rest of the world, it is behind in its legislation to regulate trans fats.

Now, America may be the leader in some things, but it certainly doesn't set food safety standards for the rest of the world, and hasn't for some decades. American food safety law is in fact worryingly lax by European standards. Americans are almost always terribly surprised by this.