Chicago Alderman Ed Burke is backing off calls for an outright ban of trans fatty acids in the city. Trans fats are known to raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk for coronary heart disease.

Burke now says he would support a more gradual approach that would encourage restaurant owners to voluntarily stop using trans fatty oils. Burke says he wants representatives from national fast food chains to testify how they use trans fats.

“I think it’s great for initiating the debate and could lead to enough pressure to bring these restaurant chains into compliance with what they ought to be doing and clearly some of them have done it already, like Wendy’s and Chili’s and some of these other national chains,” he says.

The City Council’s Committee on License and Consumer Protection yesterday heard from health and industry experts about why a trans fat ban would be a good idea.