SPRINGFIELD - Several state lawmakers are looking to shrink waistlines across Illinois and they are targeting trans fats to help them reach their goal.

At least three separate measures are pending in the Illinois General Assembly that would require restaurants to label menu items that contain trans fats, which the Food and Drug Administration has linked to obesity and heart disease.

Trans fats are most often used as a preservative and are found in many foods including margarine, cookies, crackers, snack foods, and other foods made or fried in partially hydrogenated oils.

State Rep. Eddie Washington, D-Waukegan, said he introduced his measure, in part, to help reduce the state's health care costs caused by diet related ailments.

"I am fed up with the amount of money we pour down the drain dealing with health problems, diabetes and heart problems," he said. "It's good common sense legislation. People should know what they are eating."

Washington continued: "You can't say that too much information is bad. I don't see how you can disagree with this."

Kenneth Sawyer, a spokesman for the Illinois Restaurant Association, disagreed with Washington and said the trans fats proposals are not solely an information issue.

Sawyer said the bills are an example of government overstepping their boundaries and telling the public what to eat.

"Elected officials are getting too concerned with personal choices," he said. "If people want to have a diet completely free of something then they can cook at home. People are fully capable of deciding what they eat."

State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, who proposed a trans fat labeling measure similar to Washington's, said he isn't looking to stop people from eating trans fats.

"I don't want to get into the banning thing until we know more about it," he said. "People have a choice. On food products you can read when trans fats are part of the ingredients. But when you go into a restaurant you can't. A simple notification would be good."

Washington's legislation is House Bill 1264 Ford's proposal is House Bill 1297.