NEWTON, Mass. -- Massachusetts could become the first state to outlaw the use of artery-clogging trans fats, if one lawmaker's bill eventually becomes law. If the idea is embraced by Beacon Hill, everything from pushcart vendors to five-star restaurants would be affected.

State Rep. Peter Koutoujian of Waltham filed a bill that would ban the use of the artificial fats.

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that even without an official policy, many restaurants are moving away from trans fats.

Diane Aversa said she dreamed of having a restaurant that offered only trans fat-free foods. At the end of the summer, Aversa opened up the Ferry Street Grill in Everett. Robert Garrett, who underwent a double bypass, is among her loyal clientele.

"A lot of people don't understand what it's like to go through a bypass, you know what I mean? When they do, they'll find out and they'll change over quickly," Garrett said.

Garrett's wife said she feels much better eating foods without trans fat.

"Because I know that I'm not clogging my arteries, for one thing," said Joan Garrett.

Dr. Michael Dansinger of Tufts New England Medical Center said people who eat trans fats are one step away from ingesting poison.

"I can't think of anything else in the food supply that's more toxic than trans fats aside from poisons, which don't belong in the food supply at all and neither do trans fats," he said.

"It's in everything and why should it be in everything? I just can't understand why they have to put that in," Aversa said.

Aversa and her customers said they support any effort by Beacon Hill lawmakers to follow the lead of New York City and mandate that all Massachusetts restaurants serve food that is free of trans fats -- even if it means a little more expense.

"I think it would be worth it for our health. You know, what's a few cents more living longer?" said Everett resident Sarah Ferullo.

Dansinger cited statistics that make it hard to argue with that.

"The average intake of about 5 grams a day of trans fat is estimated to increase the risk of heart disease by 25 percent," he said.